Scuffles broke out in the Iranian parliament after the country’s economic and finance minister was sacked.

Supporters and opponents of Masoud Karbasian clashed as they debated possible impeachment of the embattled lawmaker on Sunday, the European Pressphoto Agency reported.

He was removed from office after a narrow parliamentary vote of 137 to 121, leading to the frayed tempers.

“Wrong decisions have harmed the people and led to individuals looting public assets,” one member of parliament said during the heated debate.

Iran’s economy is severely struggling with its currency – the rial – losing half its value since April and unemployment remaining high.

Things look set to get worse too. The US reimposed some sanctions in early August after the US president, Donald Trump, pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

Now, a second set of sanctions, targeting the country’s oil industry, is due to take effect in November.

Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Show all 10 1 /10 Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian, argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister epa06973480 Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian (unseen), argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 26 August 2018. Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis. The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him AFP/Getty Images Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister epa06973484 Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian (unseen), argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 26 August 2018. Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis. The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Karbasian is the second minister in President Hassan Rouhani's cabinet to be impeached this month, following the removal of Labour Minister Ali Rabiei on August 8 EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister epa06973481 Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian (unseen), argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 26 August 2018. Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis. The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Iranian MPs gesure while the Economy Minister speaks AFP/Getty Images Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister epa06973482 Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian (unseen), argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 26 August 2018. Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis. The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister epa06973506 Iranian lawmakers react during an impeachment session of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian (unseen) at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran, 26 August 2018. Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis. The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA

Major General Ali Jafari, head the Revolutionary Guards, has accused Washington of waging “psychological war” on his country.

Mr Karbasian’s sacking was the latest in a continuing shakeup designed to kickstart the economy.

Earlier this month the minister of labour Ali Rabiei was also relieved of his responsibilities, while, in July, the country’s president, Hassan Rouhani, replaced the head of the central bank.

Protests linked to the tough economic situation in the country have become increasingly common since December, and have spread to more than 80 cities and towns and resulted in 25 deaths.

The demonstrations – often led by truck drivers, farmers and merchants – have occasionally resulted in violent confrontations with Iran’s security forces.