WORLD NEWS

Iran's parliament has elected former top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, as new speaker. Larijani won 232 votes out of a total of 263 casted in the parliament. In his first speech to the 287-member assembly, larijani made clear his intention to be a powerful speaker, warning that parliament could use its powers to make Iran revise its cooperation with the un nuclear watchdog. Larijani expressed regret that in its latest report on the Iranian nuclear drive, the international atomic energy agency had "spoken in an ambiguous way." He said this attitude of the agency is regrettable. Parliament will not allow that such deceptions are made and if they continue along this path, the new parliament will intervene in the case and set a new line for cooperation with the IAEA. Larijani also indicated his parliament would be closely supervising the work of Ahmadinejad government, which has been criticized by reformists and conservatives alike for controversial economic policies. Larijani has held posts including top nuclear negotiator, state broadcasting chief, culture minister as well as unsuccessfully standing for president against Ahmadinejad in 2005.