ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday was sworn in as Iran’s ninth president following his recent electoral victory. The ceremony was attended by dozens of foreign dignitaries, including Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.
"As president, in the presence of the Holy Quran and before the Iranian nation, I swear to Almighty God that I will safeguard the official religion, the system of the Islamic Republic, and the Constitution of the country,” Pezeshkian said during his inauguration speech at the legislature, reported the state-owned Press TV.
“I will dedicate all my abilities and qualifications to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me, and I will devote myself to serving the people and elevating the nation, promoting religion and ethics, supporting righteousness, and expanding justice,” the reformist politician added.
Pezeshkian won Iran’s run-off presidential vote on July 5, beating the ultraconservative rival Saeed Jalili.
The vote was originally scheduled for 2025, but it was brought forward after former president Ebrahim Raisi died in May in a helicopter crash alongside several companions including late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Pezeshkian was formally endorsed as president of the Islamic republic by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday.
Iran's new president should submit the final list of his cabinet members to the legislature within two weeks, according to the state media.
Press TV reported that digitaries from 88 countries attended the oath-taking ceremony, including President Barzani and the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
President Barzani also attended the swearing-in ceremony of Raisi in August 2021.
Barzani visited Tehran in early May and met with Iran’s top officials. The trip played a large role in strengthening ties between Tehran and Erbil, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq, Iran's ambassador to Baghdad, told Rudaw at the time. Barzani returned to the Iranian capital for Raisi’s funeral.
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