By Manijeh Rezapoor

IIDO director elaborates on Iran’s social-cultural status in Majlis 

TEHRAN – Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization (IIDO) director Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Qomi attended a Majlis session on Sunday to elaborate on the social and cultural status of the country.

Iranian parliamentary committee enumerates steps needed to counter Israel’s anti-human moves

TEHRAN – The Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign policy Committee on Saturday approved a plan to counter Israel’s hostile moves against peace and security.

MPs approve motion on Israel’s hostile measures

TEHRAN — Iranian lawmakers have approved the double-urgency of a motion which would obligate the Iranian government to take certain measures against hostile measures of the Israeli regime.

Iran raises annual tourism budget by 39%

TEHRAN- Iran’s national budget bill proposed for the current fiscal year (started March 20), has allocated 15.326 trillion rials (about $360 million at the official dollar rate of 42,000 rials) to the tourism sector, an increase of 39 percent year on year. 

Handicraft exports from Isfahan surge 27%, hit $40 million

TEHRAN - Handicrafts exports from Isfahan province, long been home to talented artisans and craftspeople, reached $40 million during the past Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 20), showing 27 percent growth year on year.

Details of motion aiming to reduce parliament speaker’s power unveiled

TEHRAN — A member of the parliament’s presiding board has unveiled details of a motion that aims at reducing the parliament speaker’s power among other things in the next parliamentary term.

U.S. sanctions hindering Iran's fight against coronavirus outbreak: MP

TEHRAN- An Iranian parliamentarian wrote on her official Twitter account on Saturday that the U.S. economic terrorism and illegal sanctions are now among the main barriers facing Iran to mitigate COVID-19 outbreak.

Majlis rejects general outlines of budget bill

TEHRAN – The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) on Monday rejected general outlines of the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1399, which starts on March 20, ISNA reported.

Final results of Iran Elections could be announced by Sunday: official

TEHRAN – The spokesman for Iran’s Election Headquarters said the process of vote counting is underway, expressing hope that the final results of the Friday elections in larger cities would be announced by Sunday.

Political figures call on people to participate in parliamentary polls 

TEHRAN - In recent days a great number of senior religious and political figures have called on people with different political persuasions to take part in the parliamentary elections.

Majlis approves handicrafts are VAT-exempt

TEHRAN – The Iranian parliament (Majlis) on Tuesday approved a bill to exempt craftspeople and handicraft producers from paying value-added tax (VAT).

Rouhani signs law designating Pentagon as terrorist organization

TEHRAN - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday signed into law a bill designating the Pentagon as a terrorist organization.

Assyrian MP condemns Dutch politician’s insult to Islam’s prophet 

TEHRAN - Representative of the Iranian Assyrians at the Parliament on Monday strongly condemned a Dutch politician for publishing a blasphemous cartoon of Islam's Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Government to take back trade law amendment bill

TEHRAN- The Iranian government has called for taking back a bill on the country’s trade law amendment form the parliament (Majlis), Mehr news agency reported.

Majlis committee approves next year’s budget bill

TEHRAN- The Iranian parliament (Majlis)’s Ad hoc Budget Review Committee on Tuesday approved the 1.988 quadrillion rials (about $473.5 billion) national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year, starting March 20, Mehr news agency reported, quoting a member of the committee as saying.

Iran, Oman voice pleasure as hopes rise over cession of war in Yemen 

TEHRAN - Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Omani Deputy Parliament Speaker Abdullah Al Amri on Saturday expressed pleasure over relative ceasefire in Yemen, underlining their respective countries' support for a peaceful settlement of the war in the country. 

Top MP criticizes cut in defense budget 

TEHRAN - Head of the Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Saturday criticized the government for reducing the defense budget for the next year. 

Trusting scientists is best way to counter sanctions: deputy parliament speaker 

TEHRAN - The vice speaker of the Iranian Parliament said on Tuesday that one of the best ways to overcome consequences of the U.S. sanctions is to rely on the country’s talents. 

Tourism ministry’s budget seen to rise by 11.8%

TEHRAN – The budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year (to start March 20, 2020) has proposed 13 trillion rials (about $310 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) for the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, an increase of 11.8 percent compared with the current year’s budget.

‘Budget of resistance’ to counter sanction effects

Rouhani submits $473b budget bill to Majlis

TEHRAN- President Hassan Rouhani submitted the administration’s draft of the national budget bill for the next Iranian calendar year 1399, which starts on March 20, 2020, to the Majlis on Sunday, IRNA reported.

Registration of parliament hopefuls in Iran to start on Sunday

TEHRAN – An Iranian Interior Ministry official announced on Saturday that registration of candidates for the next parliamentary election will start on Sunday. 

Rouhani introduces bill on ‘conflict of interests’ to Majlis

TEHRAN – President Hassan Ruohani introduced on Tuesday a new bill on “how to manage conflict of interests” to the parliament. 

Judiciary chief vows unabated fight against corruption  

TEHRAN – Fight against corruption will continue relentlessly, Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said on Tuesday, noting that he will not allow anything to deflect attention from the war against corruption.

Zarif most accountable minister in face of questions: MP 

TEHRAN – A member of the Majlis presiding board said on Monday that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has thus far been chosen as the most accountable minister in the face of questions by Majlis on regional and national issues. 

Protestors are different from rioters and thugs: MP

TEHRAN – An Iranian parliamentarian said on Monday that those who protested against increase in gas price definitely have nothing to share with those who embarked on damaging public property and attacking security forces.

MP: Larijani made Majlis passive in the last 4 years 

TEHRAN – A principlist lawmaker has claimed that Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani turned the legislature into a passive body during the last 4 years. 

MP urges Majlis meeting with president, top judge to discuss price monitoring following gas price rise

TEHRAN – A reformist lawmaker on Tuesday underlined the necessity of holding a meeting between legislators and the heads of three branches of the government to debate how to monitor prices of goods following the gas price rise.

MP calls for rise in people’s wage following hike in gas price 

TEHRAN – A parliamentarian suggested on Monday that freeing up prices should not be just restricted to gas price and it should spread people’s income, especially those with a fixed wage.