Mohammad Dadfar, rapporteur of the Parliamentary Committee in Charge of Article 90 Committee, who is handling a probe into the status of jailed reformists, told reporters that Alizadeh has written a letter to the committee, authorizing investigation into the judicial system.

He said that Alizadeh has been attempting to initiate a new chapter in the relations between Tehran's Justice Administration and the Parliamentary Committee.

Early last month, Alizadeh fired back at reformists in the parliament, criticizing them for their all-out support of the jailed reformists.

"Why do you question the judicial system for the so-called reformers whose reformism is regretted," Alizadeh said in a letter to the same parliamentary committee.

He said that the judicial decision should be seen as the "conclusive argument" and that no other person or apparatus should be allowed to interfere in the judicial affairs under any circumstances.

"The judges have never taken factional leanings into account and will never do so," he stressed.

Alizadeh took a sharp snipe at Majid Ansari, the reformist MP who called last Tuesday on the reformist-led parliament (majlis) to rebuke Alizadeh who has banned majlis from any probe into the judicial system.

"Mr Ansari, why are you making such a fuss over several journalists who have been legally detained," he said. "Why do you raise questions about legal proceedings for the sake of a bunch of so-called reformers and newspapers?"

Majid Ansari said that the parliamentary presiding board should take "legal action" against Alizadeh who, he added, has disparaged the chamber. Alizadeh had said earlier Monday that majlis is not in a position to probe into the business of the justice administration.

The letter comes at a time when majlis and the judiciary are locked up in a volley of tense arguments over continuing clampdown by the latter on reformist journalists and MPs.

Several journalists were arrested and sentenced to varying prison terms last April and a number of pro-reform newspapers were closed down on a battery of charges, including publishing anti-revolutionary articles, lies and slander.