Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has formally confirmed Masoud Pezeshkian, winner of a snap election earlier this month, as head of state.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei formally recognized President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian as the Islamic Republic’s head of state in a ceremony on Sunday. Khamenei presented Pezeshkian with a document called the “decree of confirmation,” officially validating his right to assume office. Pezeshkian’s official inauguration will take place at the Iranian Parliament in two days, following Khamenei’s endorsement. The event is expected to draw a large crowd, with over 2,500 attendees, including 70 delegations from foreign countries and international organizations.
Various Iranian officials and dignitaries, including Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, were present at Sunday’s event. Vahidi gave a report on the snap elections that were held after the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. Iranians failed to elect a new leader in the first round of voting in late June, prompting a runoff. On July 5, 69-year-old Pezeshkian, considered a relatively moderate candidate, won the election with 53.6% of the vote.
In granting his approval to Pezeshkian, Khamenei, as Iran’s supreme authority, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of improving relations with the country’s neighbors. However, he reiterated Tehran’s condemnation of the situation in Gaza and its anti-Israel stance. The supreme leader denounced the “Zionist regime” in Israel as “a gang of criminals, murderers, and terrorists.”
Following his confirmation, Pezeshkian addressed the gathering, pledging to align his actions with Khamenei’s directives. “The responsibility that the Constitution has placed on me is to move towards the clear path outlined by the Supreme Leader,” he stated, as quoted by Iran International news outlet.