Iranian parliament issues warning to Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in parliament

Iranian parliament issued a written warning to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to refrain from appointing special representatives for foreign affairs and causing divisions in the country’s foreign policy.

The warning that was approved by 122 MPs was read out at the end of today’s session at the parliament.

The statement read: “Appointing special representatives of the president in the foreign policy arena is against the law and the president should adhere to the supreme leader’s recommendations in this regard.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has recently appointed four representatives in foreign affairs. The comments of Hamid Baghai, whom Ahmadinejad had appointed to Asia affairs, regarding the treatment of Armenians in Turkey, drew the criticism of the Turkish government with whom Iran’s foreign ministry has been cultivating close relations of late.

Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki described Baghai’s comments as an attack on the country’s diplomatic relations and in effect, a direct attack on the government.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei also warned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet last week that “issues concerning foreign policy must only be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

He added: “Trusting the ministers in the framework of their duties is a vital point in the management of the government.”