The Guardian reports: The Iranian parliament has summoned the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to answer a series of questions over the government’s handling of the economy and his personal judgments.

The move is unprecedented in the history of the Islamic republic.

After a year of internal debate and unsuccessful attempts to question or impeach the president, MPs secured enough signatures for an attempt to summon Ahmadinejad. They succeeded in persuading the parliament’s presiding board to read the motion during Tuesday’s open session.

The move comes at a time of discontent at home owing to western economic sanctions and growing international isolation over Iran’s nuclear programme. In recent weeks, fears of a major confrontation between Iran and the west have grown.

Within a month of receiving the summons, Ahmadinejad is required by law to appear in the parliament. Otherwise, MPs may impeach him. However, such a decision does not follow automatically either from his failing to attend the session or from his failing to give answers that satisfy parliament.