Larijani Departs From Top Economic Council

Outgoing Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Saturday made his last appearance in the meeting of a top-level economic body, which brings together heads of the three branches of government along with their senior officials.  At the end of the meeting of the High Council for Economic Coordination, President Hassan Rouhani presented the long-serving Majlis speaker with a gift of Iranian handicraft to honor his “precious efforts and services”, President.ir reported.   Larijani, who has served as top lawmaker since June 2008, decided not to run for parliament in the latest Majlis election. Despite early speculations about his possible candidacy in the 2021 presidential election, the veteran statesman also announced that he had no intention to contest the race.  The previous parliament, which was equally controlled by reformists allied with President Rouhani and conservatives, held its closing session last Wednesday, and the new principlist-dominated legislature will open this Wednesday.  Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former mayor of Tehran, and Hamid Reza Haji-Babaei, former education minister, are among top contenders for the top parliamentary post.