Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran’s new president.
At a ceremony broadcast live on state television on Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei gave his official approval for Pezeshkian, who emerged victorious in the second round of the presidential vote on July 5.
Iranian state and military officials, seminary and university professors, representatives of various guilds, a group of families of martyrs, and foreign ambassadors in Tehran attended the ceremony.
The Leader’s decree, endorsing the mandate of President Pezeshkian, was read out at the event by the head of the leader’s office.
In the decree, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The fate-determining test of the presidential election ended with calmness and sobriety in difficult conditions thanks to the endeavors of people and officials, and the person chosen by the nation became ready to take on a great responsibility.”
He also described the 14th presidential vote, which was held after martyred president Ebrahim Raeisi's unfinished term of office, as “one of the honors of the Iranian nation and a sign of the establishment of a sustainable Islamic system that indicate the rationality and sobriety of the country’s political environment.”
The Leader also expressed prayers and wishes for Pezeshkian’s success, adding that the nation’s vote and his endorsement will persist as long as the president follows his usual approach on the straight path of Islam and the Revolution.
Pezeshkian will take the oath of office in parliament on Tuesday.
The 69-year-old heart surgeon garnered more than 16 million votes against ex-nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who secured upwards of 13 million out of over 30 million votes cast, with the voter turnout standing at almost 50 percent.
In a victory speech, Pezeshkian described his triumph as the start of “a new chapter” for the country.
The election was called early after Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi lost his life in a helicopter crash in May.