Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to the opening of the 10th mandate of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), praised people’s epic turnout in the elections for the legislative body, and recommended Members of Parliament at the Islamic Consultative Assembly to pursue the requirements for the materialization of resistive economy and expansion and deepening of Islamic culture, while steering clear of getting preoccupied with factional outgrowths and favoring personal motivations over public interests. 
“The revolutionary and legal duty upon you dear MPs is to make Majlis a firm fortress against tactics and trickery and excessive demands of the Arrogance and a shining of confidence point for the pious and revolutionary people,” the leader emphasized. 

The full text of Ayatollah Khamenei’s message, which was read out to the opening of the ceremony marking the start of the 10th Islamic Consultative Assembly’s mandate by Chief of Staff of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, is as follows:  

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

I congratulate you the exalted nation of Islamic Iran and you, the elected [MPs] who have accepted big responsibilities, on the start of the 10th mandate of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the blessed month of Sha’ban, which is the month of spirituality and humbleness and the month of major religious feasts, and I offer my gratitude to people from all walks of life who, by creating an epic election, perpetuated the ceaseless cycle of legislation and added another link to this vital chain. 

This is all born out of divine success and a sign of the grace and compassion of His sacred nature; He who has offered his unique hand to the nation and the country and the Islamic establishment. The heart and the language are unable to sufficiently express gratefulness to this blessing.  

With its massive turnout in the all-important legislative assembly, the Iranian nation renewed its longtime allegiance to the Islamic Republic establishment and responded loudly to ill-wishers. The valuable faithfulness of the nation invites officials in different sectors to assume responsibility and be grateful for this blessing. The obligation upon us – officials – is now heavier than before.   

The oath, which is taken by MPs during the first day of their work and which is a religious and binding oath, expresses the main chapters of responsibilities of MPs in Majlis. You, dear brothers and sisters, can fulfill these tasks within the framework of your legal responsibilities with wisdom, sincerity and piety and feel proud before God and humans.

Only in that case will you be able to hold the Islamic Consultative Assembly in its special position, which is “at top of all state affairs”.     

The turbulent conditions in the region and the world and international adventurism by hegemonic powers and their followers have confronted Islamic Iran with more complicated conditions than before. The country’s authority for facing such conditions requires vigilance and firm determination and initiative by all officials. The revolutionary and legal duty upon you dear MPs is to make Majlis a firm fortress against tactics and trickery and excessive demands of the Arrogance and a shining of confidence point for the pious and revolutionary people.  

Materializing a resistive economy along with its obligatory requirements and making serious efforts for broadening and deepening Islamic culture constitute two urgent priorities of the present time. There are other important priorities in different sectors pertaining to national might and strengthening of security and immunity of the country that guarantee the establishment of social justice and independence and progress of the country. Identifying these priorities are among duties of MPs and at the disposal of their intelligent minds. 
I recommend respected MPs to trust and hope in the promises of Almighty God and [embrace] steadfastness on the direct divine path and I [urge you] to keep away from being preoccupied with factional outgrowths and favoring personal motivations over public interests.  

I feel compelled to offer my sincere gratitude to the MPs in the 9thMajlis and its industrious speaker, who has been dedicated to serving people, and all members of the Presiding Board, as well as all organizers of the 10th legislative elections in all its stages. 

I commemorate the late great Imam [Khomeini] and the martyrs and war veterans, and, offering my sincere salutations to Valiollah al-Azam, May We Sacrifice Our Lives for Him, I do ask Almighty God to bestow success upon all of you 

Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
Khordad 7, 1395 (May 28, 2016)