TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday urged newly-elected lawmakers Saturday to resist "schemes" from the West as parliamentarians met in Tehran for the first time since elections finished in April.
"The turbulent state of the region and the world and the international adventurism of oppressors and their vassals have confronted the Islamic Iran with conditions more complicated than before," said a message from Ayatollah Khamenei, read to a packed parliament chamber.
The Leader called for loyalty to the principles of the 1979 revolution and resistance against Western infiltration.
"It is the revolutionary and legal duty of you to make the parliament a stronghold against the schemes, charms and impudently excessive demands of the Arrogance," his message read.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the big turnout of the people in the February elections as the "re-allegiance with Islamic Republic" and called on the elected legislators to be vigilant in the face of regional and international challenges.
The 290-member parliament was inaugurated in the presence of 265 members, with three seats vacant after votes for two MPs were nullified by Iran's constitutional oversight body, the Guardian Council, and a third member died in a car accident.
Elections for the key position of house speaker and the presiding board are expected on Sunday or Monday.
Only after the position is filled will be clear whether Iran's Principlists or the moderate-reformist allies of President Hassan Rouhani have a working majority.
According to a rough count, no single party won an overall majority in elections.
The role of the independent members will be critical in the balance of parliament's partisan powers.
Incumbent Principlist speaker Ali Larijani and Reformist Muhammad Reza Aref are the top candidates standing for the position.
Iranian media say Larijani, who supported last year's nuclear agreement with major powers, seems to have the upper hand.
The new parliament includes a record 18 women, an achievement Rohani said made him "very happy."
Parliamentary polls were held in late February. A second round took place in April for 68 seats where no candidate had obtained a minimum 25% of first round votes.
Saturday's opening session comes less than a year after long negotiations between Iran and world powers culminated in a nuclear agreement that took effect in January and saw economic sanctions eased on Tehran.
Rohani addressed the new legislature, saying Iran needs $30 billion to $50 billion in annual foreign investment in order to reach its target of eight percent economic growth.
In his speech to lawmakers, Rohani praised Larijani for supporting the nuclear pact and called for greater "interaction" between parliament and the government to "solve the problems and crises of the country."
Rouhani said Iran can still meet its target for economic growth this year even as major European banks remain reluctant to do business with the Islamic Republic for fear of U.S. sanctions.
"This year we will see five percent growth,” he told lawmakers. The current Iranian year ends in March 2017.
More than four months after the lifting of sanctions, international banks have shied away from entering the country, delaying its integration in the global financial system.
More than half of international companies interested in doing business with Iran are also holding back for fear of running afoul of sanctions that remain in place even after its nuclear deal.