TEHRAN: Iranian reformist leader Dr Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn before parliament on Tuesday as the country’s ninth president at a ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries.

Dr Pezeshkian, who is expected to unveil his government within two weeks, won a runoff race against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili on July 5 to replace president Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May.

In his inaugural speech, President Pezeshkian welcomed dignitaries and representatives from more than 80 countries, who have traveled to Tehran to take part in his inauguration ceremony.

Central to his foreign policy, the president promised that constructive engagement with the world would be the cornerstone of his government’s approach to foreign affairs. “The world needs to seize this unparalleled opportunity for addressing regional and global issues through the collaboration of a powerful, peace-seeking, and dignified Iran,” he said.

Iranian president Pezeshkian sworn in at parliament; Dar among 80 foreign dignitaries at inauguration ceremony

Dr Pezeshkian expressed his commitment to safeguarding Iran’s dignity and interests on the international stage, with the backing of the Iranian people and the supreme leader, while trying to forge consensus among all political factions within the country.

“I as the president, in front of the Holy Koran and the people of Iran, swear to almighty God to be the guardian of the official religion and the Islamic Republic system and the constitution of the country,” he said at the ceremony which was broadcast live on state TV.

Also, he voiced a strong desire for a world where the Palestinian people are liberated from occupation and oppression — a world where “no Palestinian child’s dreams are buried under the rubble of their homes”.

Tuesday’s ceremony was attended by European Union envoy Enrique Mora, senior officials from several countries including Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Cuba and Brazil. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh,

head of the Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Hez­bollah leader Naim Qassem, Yemen’s Huthi leader Mohammed Abdulsalam were also in attendance.

Iran’s presidential election took place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over Israeli strikes on Gaza, unilateral withdrawal of the US from Iran’s nuclear deal and domestic discontent over the state of the sanctions-hit economy.

The swearing-in ceremony came amid growing concerns of war escalation in Middle East, as Israeli forces continue to attack UN refugee camps, schools, residential buildings in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria in what they call retaliation to strikes by Hamas and Hezbollah on targets inside Israel.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf gave a speech lambasting what he called Israel’s “crimes” in Gaza.

President Pezeshkian recently called for “constructive relations” with European countries, even though he accused them of reneging on commitments to mitigate the impact of renewed US sanctions.

During his campaign, he had vowed to try and revive a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that collapsed in 2018 after the US unilaterally withdrew from it.

Among other dignitaries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the inauguration ceremony. He was earlier received by Director General (West Asia) of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seyed Rasoul Musavi and Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran Mohammad Mudassir Tipu on his arrival at Tehran airport.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024