DHAKA: Iran’s parliament, dominated by conservatives, strongly endorsed president Hassan Rohani’s diplomatic bid to break down mistrust at the United Nations in New York last week, which ended with an historic phone call with US president Barack Obama, Iranian media said.

The backing from the assembly, controlled by political factions deeply loyal to Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a further sign that Rohani has the backing of the Iranian establishment.

Khamenei, the most powerful figure in Iran, has yet to publicly comment on Rohani’s trip.

In the first joint meeting between president and parliament, Rohani briefed parliamentarians on his trip to New York, including discussions on Iran’s nuclear dispute with the West and regional relations, the student news agency ISNA said late on Tuesday.

Two hundred and thirty parliamentarians, out of the total of 290, signed a statement expressing their support of Rohani for presenting the image of a ‘powerful and peace-seeking Iran which seeks talks and interaction for the settlement of regional and international issues’, Fars news agency said, reports TDS.

BDST: 1715 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
RoR/GCP