Tehran: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as the country’s new president on Sunday. Pezeshkian, who won the recent election with promises of a pragmatic foreign policy and greater domestic freedoms, is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday.
Pezeshkian assumes office amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and the involvement of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Sunday, Iran cautioned Israel against any new aggression in Lebanon following an Israeli accusation that Hezbollah was responsible for a rocket attack on Saturday. The attack, which struck a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, resulted in 12 fatalities. Hezbollah has denied involvement, while Israel has vowed a severe response.
During a ceremony broadcast live on state television, Khamenei gave his formal approval for Pezeshkian. In his speech, the supreme leader reaffirmed Iran’s entrenched anti-Israel stance, denouncing the Israeli government as a “criminal gang” and praising Hamas for its resistance in Gaza.
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Although Pezeshkian is viewed as a relative moderate, major shifts in Iran’s policies, such as its support for regional militia groups, are unlikely. The ultimate authority on state matters, including foreign and nuclear policies, resides with the powerful Revolutionary Guards, who answer solely to Khamenei.
Pezeshkian’s presidency has raised hopes for a possible thaw in Iran’s strained relations with the West, potentially paving the way for negotiations to resolve the nuclear dispute with world powers. However, Khamenei retains the final say on all critical state matters, including the appointment of key cabinet positions like foreign, oil, and intelligence ministers.
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Facing growing public discontent due to economic hardships exacerbated by U.S. sanctions reinstated after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Pezeshkian’s primary economic challenge will be addressing these sanctions. Khamenei emphasized the importance of addressing economic issues as a priority, stating, “In response to global issues, we should act proactively and effectively … priorities must be observed, today (on the domestic front) the priority is economic issues.”
