TEHRAN: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hands the official endorsement letter to Masoud Pezeshkian during a ceremony held on Sunday to endorse the president-elect, ahead of his swearing-in on July 30. —AFP
TEHRAN: Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hands the official endorsement letter to Masoud Pezeshkian during a ceremony held on Sunday to endorse the president-elect, ahead of his swearing-in on July 30. —AFP

TEHRAN: Iran’s supr­eme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave on Sunday his official endorsement of Dr Masoud Pezeshkian as the country’s ninth president, following snap elections won by the reformist camp’s candidate.

In a message read by the director of Khamenei’s office, the supreme leader said: “I endorse the vote (for) the wise, honest, popular and scholarly Mr Pezeshkian, and I am appointing him as the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The new reformist president is due to be sworn in before parliament on Tuesday.

The endorsement ceremony was held in the capital Tehran in the presence of senior Iranian officials and foreign diplomats, and broadcast on state TV. Ex-president Hassan Rouhani and Saeed Jalili also attended the Sunday’s ceremony.

Following the event, acting president Mohammad Mokhber handed over official responsibilities to 69-year-old Pezeshkian.

Vice president appointed

Later, Dr Pezeshkian appointed reformist Reza Aref, 72, as his first vice president.

Aref has represented Tehran in parliament and served as first vice president and communications minister under president Mohammad Khatami.

Dr Pezeshkian later thanked the people of Iran, vowing to carry the “heavy burden” of the presidency.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Electricity relief
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Electricity relief

If govt ensures that requisite power reforms are implemented, it will earn much praise for reforming a vital segment of the economy.
Trump’s trade wars
05 Apr, 2025

Trump’s trade wars

THE so-called reciprocal tariffs rolled out recently by American President Donald Trump have expanded his vicious...
Legalised land grab
05 Apr, 2025

Legalised land grab

THE Modi government has passed a new bill targeting the Muslim community, this time eyeing swathes of priceless real...
More than words
Updated 04 Apr, 2025

More than words

Holistic development can only work when there is organic and credible political activity in the province.
Poor publicity
04 Apr, 2025

Poor publicity

FORTUNE does not seem to be favouring the PTI — at least not yet. With the party’s founder confined from public...
Party pooper
04 Apr, 2025

Party pooper

INDIA’s role of a spoilsport is tiresome. From pulling books from shelves, such as Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: ...