TEHRAN – Majlis on Wednesday approved a legislation allowing an extension of the term of the sitting city councils until the next presidential election in 2013 and also voted for the establishment of the new province of Alborz.

According the parliamentary approval the next councils will start their work one month after next presidential election.
The ratification came as the Expediency Council approved a bill in April for biennial elections, stating that presidential and city council polls be held simultaneously, and Assembly of Experts and parliamentary elections also be held simultaneously.
Alborz province
According to parliamentary ratification, the province of Tehran was divided into two provinces and the new province of Alborz was born in northwest of Tehran.
144 MPs voted for the bill, 41 voted against, and 19 abstained. It will be the 31st province of Iran.
The city of Karaj will be the seat of Alborz province.
MP Fatemeh Ajorlou, representing Karaj, told the Mehr News Agency that the Alborz governor will be introduced within one month.
-------Respecting SCCR decisions on Azad University
Majlis also on Wednesday voted in favor of a one-star plan according to which decisions that are made by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution concerning Azad University should remain in full force and that Majlis should not interfere with the council’s decisions.
The plan just came three days after MPs voted in favor of a bill confirming endowment of the properties of Azad University.
On Sunday, MPs voted for a plan to support establishment of private higher education centers which also encompasses Azad University.