Qalibaf Elected as New Majlis Speaker

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former mayor of Tehran and President Hassan Rouhani’s main rival in the 2017 presidential elections, was elected as new Speaker of Iran Parliament.

In the first open session of the new Parliament on Thursday, the conservative lawmaker was unanimously elected as the speaker with 231 votes.

Amir-Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi and Ali Nikzad, both conservatives, were also elected as the first and second vice-speakers of the Parliament.

Qazizadeh secured 208 votes and Nikzad, a former minister in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s cabinet, won 196 votes.

Meanwhile President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Qalibaf on his election as Majlis Speaker.

In his congratulatory messages on Thursday, President Rouhani expressed hope that with joint efforts and constructive interaction between the government and Parliament, more synergy takes place in organizing the country’s affairs to solve people’s problems, increase hope in society and serve the great Iranian nation more.

Meanwhile yesterday, Qalibaf stressed the need for continuation of trilateral talks between Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and Turkey within the framework of Astana Peace Process on Syria.

In a telephone conversation with Qalibaf, Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop congratulated Qalibaf on his election as Iranian Parliament Speaker.

The two sides discussed regional issues and developments.

He pointed to the commonalities between the two countries of Iran and Turkey and added, “the friendly relations between Iran and Turkey have always been established at the highest level.”

He went on to say that the Iranian parliament welcomes and supports any kind of move for expanding and developing bilateral ties.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Qalibaf emphasized the significance of economic cooperation between the two countries and added, “given the significance of bilateral relations, Iran and Turkey Parliamentary Group will be set up soon.”

He further stressed the need for continuation of trilateral talks between Iran, Turkey and Russia within the framework of Astana Peace Process on Syria.

For his part, Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop said that Turkey’s Parliament is ready to strengthen bilateral friendly ties in various political, economic and cultural areas.

With containing coronavirus pandemic, he expressed hope that bilateral trade and economic exchanges between the two countries would normalize.

Turkish Parliament speaker strongly condemned unjust and cruel U.S. sanctions imposed against Iran and then invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Turkey.