Pezeshkian vows positive engagement with world

KABUL (Pajhwok): Masoud Pezeshkian has been sworn as the ninth president of Iran two days after his endorsement by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian, who had secured more than 16 million votes in Iran’s run-off election, would unveil his government within two weeks, Al Jazeera reported.

“I as the president, in front of the holy Quran and the people of Iran, swear to Almighty Allah to be the guardian of the official religion and the Islamic Republic system and the constitution of the country,” he said at the ceremony that was broadcast live on state TV.

Pezeshkian takes office at a time of escalating Middle East tensions over Israel’s war on Gaza and near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran’s ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“Those who supply weapons that kill children cannot teach Muslims about humanity,” he said to chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.

On Monday, Pezeshkian also warned Israel against attacking Lebanon, saying such an act would have “heavy consequences”.

“My government will never succumb to bullying and pressure … Pressure and sanctions do not work … and the Iranian people should be spoken to with respect,” Pezeshkian said.

“I will not stop trying to remove the oppressive sanctions,” he said. “I am optimistic about the future.”

In his maiden speech as president, Pezeshkian sought international cooperation with Iran on dealing with regional and global challenges.

Constructive engagement with the world would be the cornerstone of his government’s foreign policy, the incoming leader promised.

On Wednesday morning, Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his residence in Tehran, the Palestinian group announced.

Hamas blamed Israel for assassinating its political chief along with a bodyguard in the strike on the building where they were staying.

Haniyeh was in Iran’s capital to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

sa/mud