Iranian parliament to probe Obama letter

TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A congratulatory letter sent by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Barack Obama has triggered an investigation by Iran's parliament, lawmakers say.

Ahmadinejad's Thursday letter to the U.S. president-elect, in which he urged Obama to be a "good president," will be probed by the Majlis, or Iranian parliament, the state-backed Press TV reported Monday.

It quoted Hamid-Reza Haji-Babaei, a member of the Majlis Presiding Board, as saying, "Obviously the Majlis is very concerned about the president's letter to Obama and will examine the issue within the coming days."

The Iranian broadcaster said Ahmadinejad's congratulatory missive has turned into a major issue for members of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, which is set to address it after lawmakers introduce the topic during an open session.

No Iranian president has written such a letter to a U.S. president-elect since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Press TV noted.