Iran's Rouhani fails to convince lawmakers over economic situation
Xinhua
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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 28, 2018. Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday were not convinced by most of the answers given by President Hassan Rouhani to their questions about his administration's performance over current hardship in the country's economy. (Photo: Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday were not convinced by most of the answers given by President Hassan Rouhani to their questions about his administration's performance over current hardship in the country's economy.

Rouhani attended parliament to answer questions by the lawmakers about his government's failure to control goods smuggling, continuation of western banking sanctions, unemployment rate, economic recession and increase in forex rate.

The lawmakers were only contented by Rouhani's answer about the banking sanctions while his answers to other questions failed to win the lawmakers' approval.

Rouhani acknowledged that his administration had made some mistakes in handling the economic issues.

The lawmakers can send the questions to Iran's judiciary for further review. This would be a warning note to Rouhani if he is impeached by the parliament over the country's economic situation.

On Sunday, the Iranian lawmakers dismissed Rouhani's Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance over the current economic situation and refrained from giving a vote of confidence to him.

The Iranian lawmakers have complained that the administration's mismanagement of the conditions has resulted in price hikes and diminishing purchasing power.

The Iranian rial plunged to a record low against the U.S. dollar this month. There has been growing demand for dollars among Iranians for fear of more plunge in their assets values and growing price.

Foreign currency values began to rise in Iran after the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and announced plans for a fresh wave of sanctions against the Islamic republic.

However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the economic problems are not wholly caused by the U.S. sanctions, but a series of internal issues and mismanagement.