Pro-reform Iranian lawmakers criticised the president on Sunday for replacing Iran's chief negotiator in an escalating nuclear row with the West, saying it was not in the national interest, news agencies reported.
In a surprise move analysts saw as signalling a hardening of Tehran's position in the dispute, Ali Larijani was replaced on October 20 by Saeed Jalili, an ally of the fiercely anti-Western president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It coincided with growing tension between the Islamic Republic and the United States over Tehran's di suspects is aimed at making bombs. Iran denies the charge. "With the country facing its most sensitive days, changing the chief nuclear negotiator was not compatible with the country's interests," the Fars News Agency quoted more than 20 MPs as saying in a joint statement.
Signed mainly by members of a minority pro-reform faction in the 290-seat assembly, it said Ahmadinejad should have acted "more patiently". Fars said 23 MPs signed it, but the Mehr News Agency put the number at 22.
The statement, presented at the conservative-led parliament, came two days after Iran's biggest reformist party openly challenged Ahmadinejad's hard-line nuclear diplomacy tactics.
Such public criticism of government policy is relatively rare in Iran, but the president also came under attack earlier this year over his economic policies.
More than 180 lawmakers, in a letter last week, praised Larijani for his achievements in office.
The largest pro-reform party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front, warned on Friday of an escalating crisis with the international community, and called for a review of nuclear policy.
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