DUBAI: Iran’s parliament called off plans to grill President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said they must not act in the interests of Iran’s enemies.
Ahmadinejad’s opponents in the 290-seat assembly dominated by conservatives wanted to question him about an economic crisis that they blame as much on his mismanagement as on Western sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Economic woes have forced up prices of goods, diminished the value of the Iranian currency and exacerbated divisions within Iran’s factionalised political system. “Up to this point, the plan to question the president has been positive because of the sense of responsibility of parliament and the readiness of government officials,” said Khamenei, who holds ultimate power.
