A popular Principlist parliamentarian has criticized the Iranian president for sending a congratulatory letter to the US president-elect.

Ahmad Tavakkoli, a member of Iran's Majlis (parliament), criticized the letter as 'undefendable' in a letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday.

Ahmadinejad on Thursday congratulated Senator Barack Obama for attracting the majority of votes in the US presidential election - the first such move by an Iranian president since 1980.

"I hope that through preferring the real needs of people over the insatiable demands of a selfish and corrupt minority, you would take the chance and write your name as a good president in history," reads the letter.

In regards to Tehran-Washington relations, Obama has vowed to begin direct negotiations with Iranian leaders over the country's controversial nuclear program.

According to former US national security adviser Tony Lake, an aide to the senator during the campaign season, the Obama administration will engage Iran in early 2009.

In the Saturday letter, Tavakkoli, however, criticized the Iranian president over his openness to reconsolidate with the White House.

"US statesmen have repeatedly shown apathy to unilateral efforts (by President Ahmadinejad) to reopen relations," said the Iranian lawmaker.

Tavakkoli expounded that such rejections do not work to preserve the dignity of the Iranian nation.

In his first post-election press conference on Friday, Senator Obama confirmed the receipt of Ahmadinejad's letter.

"I will be reviewing the letter from President Ahmadinejad and we will respond appropriately," Obama added.

MD/AA