Rouhani grilled in Parliament over economic woes

Tehran, Aug. 28: Iran's parliament has declared its dissatisfaction with President Hassan Rouhani, voting to reject his answers after grilling him over the deteriorating economy.

Rouhani's appearance in parliament on Tuesday was the first time he had been summoned by parliament in his five years in power.

Members of parliament demanded explanations for unemployment, rising prices and the sharp depreciation of the rial, which has lost more than half of its value since April.

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The MPs, who have already impeached his labour and economy ministers this month, were unimpressed with the answers. In votes at the end of the session, they expressed dissatisfaction with Rouhani's responses to four of their five questions on the economy, which will now be referred to the judiciary for review.

There were conflicting reports about what would follow from the vote: several Iranian news agencies said Rouhani's case would now be referred to the judiciary, although the spokesman for the parliamentary leadership, Behrouz Nemati, said the MPs needed to hold further discussions before that would take place. Rouhani has been under intense pressure since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, worsening an economic crisis and sparking a series of domestic protests.

In Tuesday's session, he blamed Iran's economic woes on an "American conspiracy" and urged parliament to support his cabinet.