Ayatollah Khamenei officially approves reformist Pezeshkian as Iran's president

Following the outcome of elections held earlier this month

En una imagen facilitada por la oficina del líder supremo iraní, el ayatolá Alí Jamenei, se ve a Jamenei (Centro) junto al presidente electo Masud Pezeshkian (3º dcha.), el presidente en funciones Mohammad Mokhber (4º izq.), el presidente del Parlamento iraní, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (2º dcha.), y el presidente del Poder Judicial iraní, Mohsen Ejeie (dcha.), durante la ceremonia de investidura del nuevo presidente, en Teherán, el 28 de julio de 2024 – PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/KHAMENEI.IR — In a picture provided by the office of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei (centre) is seen with President-elect Masud Pezeshkian (3rd right), acting President Mohammad Mokhber (4th left), Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (2nd right), and Speaker of the Iranian Judiciary Mohsen Ejeie (right) during the ceremony. ), Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (2nd right) and Iranian Judiciary Chairman Mohsen Ejeie (right) during the inauguration ceremony of the new president in Tehran on 28 July 2024 - PHOTO/AFP PHOTO/KHAMENEI.IR

28/07/24

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday officially gave his approval to reformist Masud Pezeshkian as the Islamic Republic's ninth president, following the outcome of elections earlier this month.

‘I approve the election of the wise, honest, popular and scholarly Mr Pezeshkian, and appoint him president of the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ he said, according to a message read out by the head of Khamenei's office. The new leader will be sworn in at parliament on Tuesday.

Pezeshkian won more than 16 million votes, far outstripping the 13 million won by his opponent, Islamic extremist Said Khalili, a favourite of the supreme leader's hard core.

All this in a second and final round of elections, in which mobilisation far exceeded that of the first round, but which did not even manage to surpass half of the electorate, with a turnout of 49.8%.

Tags:

Iran