Masoud Pezeshkian sworn in as Iran’s Ninth President
Masoud Pezeshkian has officially taken office as Iran’s ninth president following a ceremony in parliament where he was sworn in, replacing the late Ebrahim Raisi. The 69-year-old president, who secured over 16 million votes during the run-off election, is expected to unveil his cabinet within the next two weeks.
With hopes of a potential thaw in Iran’s relations with the West, Pezeshkian faces a host of challenges, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and US sanctions. Despite promising to stand firm against pressure and sanctions, he also expressed optimism for the future and vowed to work towards removing oppressive sanctions on Iran.
Amidst chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” Pezeshkian made it clear that he will not back down in the face of foreign influence. The ultimate authority in Iran still lies with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who must approve key cabinet appointments and has control over foreign and nuclear policy decisions.
As Pezeshkian takes the reins in Iran, the world watches closely to see how his presidency will unfold amidst escalating tensions in the region.