Common Questions

What is the Majlis?: Iran's 290-seat unicameral Parliament, formally the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Members serve four-year terms. Five seats are reserved for recognised religious minorities.
What is the Hormuz toll bill?: Legislation advanced by the Majlis to impose a permanent toll of up to $2 million per voyage on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, institutionalising Iran's economic leverage over the chokepoint.
Who is the Speaker of the Majlis?: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has held the speakership continuously since 2020 and was re-elected in May 2024 by 198 of 287 MPs present.
Can the Majlis override the Supreme Leader?: No. Under velayat-e faqih the Majlis is subordinate to the Supreme Leader. The Guardian Council, half appointed by the Supreme Leader, holds a veto over all legislation.
Is Iran leaving the NPT?: The Majlis prepared an NPT withdrawal bill with majority lawmaker support, but no full floor vote had been held by late March 2026 as Parliament was suspended during hostilities.

Background

The Majlis advanced two landmark bills during the 2026 Iran conflict: a permanent toll on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz reportedly set at up to $2 million per voyage, and a motion to withdraw Iran from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Hormuz toll bill was approved by the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on 30 March 2026, institutionalising economic leverage over a chokepoint carrying roughly 20% of global oil trade.

The Islamic Consultative Assembly has 290 seats, five reserved for recognised religious minorities, with members serving four-year terms. Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has held the post continuously since 2020, re-elected in May 2024 by 198 of 287 MPs. Under the doctrine of velayat-e faqih, the Majlis is formally subordinate to the Supreme Leader, and all legislation must pass the Guardian Council before taking effect.

The Parliament's wartime legislation represents a shift from reactive crisis management to permanent institutional change, embedding Economic warfare instruments into Iranian law rather than treating them as temporary emergency measures.