The Iranian presidential office has confirmed reports that the country’s parliament is calling for the expulsion of ambassadors from Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

The lawmakers have justified this as an appropriate response to the reinstatement of UN sanctions initiated by the three European countries.

However, the government currently saw no need for such action.

“Members of parliament naturally have the right to express their opinion, but expulsion is not currently on the government’s agenda,” he said.

Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah was quoted as saying by the media on Thursday.

The final decision in any case would lie with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to the Iranian constitution, Mr Khamenei has the final say in strategic matters.

The so-called E3 states triggered the mechanism for reintroducing UN sanctions last month.

These will come into force on Monday.

This means that the punitive measures that had been lifted under an international agreement in 2015 would be reactivated.

Iran has condemned the measures as illegal and lodged a protest with the UN.

The ambassadors to the E3 states have been recalled to Tehran for consultations.

The parliament, which is dominated by hardliners, is already working on a draft law that would see the country withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

For this step, too, the parliament would need Mr Khamenei’s approval.

(dpa/NAN)