Masoud Pezeshkian vows to improve regional relations in presidential inauguration ceremony

The newly elected Iranian president emphasised during his speech the need to 'end the crisis in Gaza'

Masoud Pezeshkian has been inaugurated before Iran's parliament as the country's ninth president, two months after Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a plane crash alongside foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Mr Pezeshkian took the oath of office during the ceremony on Tuesday, attended by a number of senior Iranian and regional officials including several Arab delegations.

The newly elected leader said his priorities will be “working to improve relations with neighbouring countries”, and calling for co-operation to resolve crises in the region.

“We must do everything in our power to end the crisis in Gaza,” he added.

“Those who support killing children in Gaza, can't give us lessons in human rights,” the leader said.

During the ceremony, Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stressed the importance of maintaining “good” relations with neighbouring countries and expanding his country's diplomatic presence. “We must deal actively and effectively, not emotionally, with international and regional events,” he said.

Mr Pezeshkian pledged to work on strengthening his country's defence capabilities in order “to raise its status in the region and the Islamic world”, adding that they will work to remove sanctions on Iran.

He also vowed for Iran to “enjoy social justice and for its people to enjoy their rights”.

Mr Khamenei officially endorsed Mr Pezeshkian as president during a ceremony on Sunday, approving the vote of the “wise, honest, popular and scholarly” doctor-turned-politician.

“I remind you that the nation’s vote and my endorsement will continue as long as his constant policy of following the straight path of Islam and revolution is maintained,” Mr Khamenei said.

The supreme leader, who was widely expected to appoint Mr Raisi as his successor, used his speech to urge the new president to forge closer ties with neighbouring nations and African and Asian states. He also criticised Israel for the mounting death toll in Gaza.

Mr Pezeshkian was the only reformist candidate allowed to stand in the election, for which all contenders were approved by the Khamenei-run Guardian Council.

The head of Iran's judiciary and members of the Guardian Council will attend the swearing-in ceremony, as outlined in Iran's constitution.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Pezeshkian discussed the Israeli war on Gaza during his first meeting with the head of Hamas's political office, Ismail Haniyeh, in the capital Tehran. The Palestinian leader travelled to Iran to participate in the inauguration ceremony.

Mr Haniyeh thanked Iran for “its honourable positions in supporting the steadfastness of our Palestinian people”, according to a statement by the group.

Mr Pezeshkian said that the people of Iran have always “hated the crimes and aggression of the Zionist regime and supported the rights of the oppressed Palestinian people”, according to the Iranian news agency Irna.

“The fierce resistance of the Palestinian people and Mujahideen is a source of pride,” he said.

“This resistance will end with the final victory of the people and the freedom of the Palestinian land.”

Mr Pezeshkian also met Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad Al-Nakhaleh and Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam on Monday night.

During the meeting with Mr Qassem, Mr Pezeshkian stressed that supporting the Axis of Resistance is “a legitimate duty and one of Iran's basic policies”, adding that strengthening relations with Islamic countries is among his government's priorities.

Mr Qassem emphasised that the defeat of the Israel would not have been possible without the support of the Islamic Republic.

Mr Salam expressed to the new leader “the admiration for the smooth political transition of power enjoyed by the Islamic Republic”, he said in a post on X.

Who is Masoud Pezeshkian?

Mr Pezeshkian, the first reformist president in about two decades, is from the city of Mahabad and trained as a doctor, becoming a heart surgeon and later president of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

He has represented the north-western city of Tabriz in parliament since 2008 and served as deputy health minister and health minister under reformist president Mohammed Khatami, and later as first deputy speaker from 2016 to 2020.

He was elected after securing about 54 per cent of votes in the July polls, which were triggered by the death of Mr Raisi in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province.

Critics are doubtful that his presidency could usher in meaningful change under the ultraconservative theocracy established in 1979, under which Mr Khamenei holds the ultimate authority and final say on all decisions.

Speaking at the Sunday ceremony, Mr Pezeshkian pledged to follow a “constructive and efficient” foreign policy and paid tribute to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force commander Gen Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US air strike at Baghdad airport in January 2020.

He also described Mr Khamenei's policies as “the guiding light of our path” in an interview with the supreme leader's office last week.

However, Mr Pezeshkian was previously critical of Mr Raisi and his handling of anti-regime protests, particularly after the nationwide demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

He also vowed to ease internet restrictions – some of the world's strictest – and to involve ethnic minorities in his government.

He will have two weeks to form a cabinet and will announce the names of his proposed ministers after Tuesday's ceremony, according to Irna.

Mr Pezeshkian appointed Mohammed Reza Aref as First Vice President on Sunday in his first official act of office.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, former foreign minister and current head of the strategic transition council, said a final review of ministerial candidates would be held with Mr Pezeshkian after the inauguration ceremony.

The new president said he would not appoint any ministers until after meeting Mr Khamenei.

At least eight candidates have been put forward for each position, and whoever is selected will have to be formally approved by parliament.

The selection of other vice presidents has not begun, Mr Zarif added.