The development comes after some 200, 000 people protested in Rio de Janeiro against the bill, which they said would deprive Rio state of much of its oil revenue.

BBC: Rousseff vetoes part of Brazil oil royalty plan

Supporters of Mr Ahmadinejad protested outside parliament on Tuesday after MPs voted down a bill to replace several board members of Azad University.

BBC: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 20 June

Senator John McCain of Arizona and Representative Bill Archer from west Houston, Texas, both powerful national figures, have protested.

ECONOMIST: Foreign trade