Austrian Parliament Eager to Broaden Ties with Iran

Sobotka made the remarks through a congratulatory message to Qalibaf.

Parliaments play an important role to build confidence and ease tensions through conversation, he said, expressing hope that Vienna and Tehran would enhance parliamentary relations.

Qalibaf secured 230 votes out of a total of 264 votes cast by the new legislators to become the next parliament speaker.

Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi from Mashhad constituency and Ali Nikzad from Ardebil constituency received 208 and 196 votes to be elected as first vice-speaker and second vice-speaker, respectively.

The 11th round of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) kicked off work on May 27 in the presence of new legislators, President Hassan Rouhani, Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Rayeesi and other high-ranking officials.

The 11th parliamentary elections and the midterm elections for the Assembly of Experts – a body whose members designate the country’s Leader – were held simultaneously on February 21.

The lawmakers are elected for a 4-year term, with no limitation for the incumbent or former parliamentarians to run again.

Qalibaf was on the top of the list of most-voted candidates in the capital with 1,265,287 votes.