Masoud Pezeshkian was inaugurated on Tuesday as the Islamic Republic of Iran's ninth president during a ceremony at the Iranian parliament, attended by foreign dignitaries. "I, as the president, in front of the Holy Quran and the people of Iran, swear to almighty God to be the guardian of the official religion, the Islamic Republic system, and the constitution of the country," Pezeshkian declared in the ceremony, which was broadcast live on state TV. Pezeshkian, 69, emerged victorious in a runoff election on July 5, defeating former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. The snap election was held to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. A heart surgeon and a parliament member for Tabriz since 2008, Pezeshkian previously served as health minister. The new president, endorsed by Iran's reformist political camp, has promised to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with the United States and other world powers. This deal, which imposed limits on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed in 2018 when Washington withdrew from it. Pezeshkian has also called for "constructive relations" with European countries, despite accusing them of failing to mitigate the impact of US sanctions. "The 14th government has created a new opportunity—an opportunity to hear the voice of all Iranians who seek change," Pezeshkian said in his speech. "An opportunity to create hope and overcome hardships and crises is before us. This election has opened a new field for national collaboration between the government and society." He further emphasised, "Reliance on God, the capabilities of our dear Iran, and the human potential of our people will open a new horizon before us. Is removing discrimination, ensuring a just and humane livelihood, and achieving progress, peace, and comfort—free from concerns, interference, and unlawful meddling—not a fundamental right of the people, as outlined in Chapter 3 of the Constitutional Law and the Vision Document?" Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of inclusivity, stating, "We must view the people of Iran—women, youth, and ethnic groups—as an unprecedented opportunity that can provide new solutions to address the country's problems. People, regardless of their tastes, ethnicity, religion, or gender, are the central factor in the country's development." He concluded by promising that the 14th government will "pursue lasting development and progress for Iran, enhance economic capacity, and improve the livelihood of its people." The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials from several countries, including Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Cuba, and Brazil. On Monday, Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty visited Tehran to participate in the ceremony, according to Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pezeshkian is expected to unveil his government within two weeks. On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran's ultimate decision-maker, officially endorsed Pezeshkian as president.
