Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani's claim that the merger of ministries without the parliament's approval is illegal, Mehr news agency reported.
On Monday, media outlets reported that the cabinet has approved the merger of eight ministries into four ministries.
Larijani said on Tuesday that it is illegal to merge the ministries without the approval of the parliament.
"The respected Majlis speaker thinks that he is a law unto himself, which is not a correct assumption. And it must be noted that one should not pollute the (political) climate of the country and make it tense for no reason," Ahmadinejad stated during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"Article 53 of the Fifth (Development) Plan has authorized the administration to merge a number of ministries at its discretion and to brief the Majlis on the duties of the new ministry, in the event a new one is established," he explained.
Iran's Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015) is part of the 20-Year Outlook Plan (2005-2025), which is the country's main blueprint for long-term sustainable growth.
"The law stipulates that the government should reduce the number of ministries (from 21) to 17," Ahmadinejad added.
The administration is upholding the law that the Majlis has ratified, Ahmadinejad said, adding, "The lawmaker has himself written the law, and he had better read it once again."
"Certain persons think that they are the employers and the government is their worker. But it would be better if the respected Majlis fulfills its own duties and allows the administration to fulfill its duties according to the law," he said.
He added, "Unfortunately, certain people are making efforts to accuse the administration of flouting the law, but no one has yet been able to prove that."
Ahmadinejad also expressed hope that the parliament speaker and other legislators would comply with the law.