Leader endorses Masoud Pezeshkian as president

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TEHRAN - In a ceremony on Sunday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei officially confirmed Masoud Pezeshkian as president for four years.

The endorsement took place two days before Pezeshkian takes the oath of office in the parliament with the attendance of 70 foreign delegates, including ten presidents and prime ministers.

In a message read by the director of the Leader's office, Ayatollah Khamenei 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 ceremony was attended by top Iranian officials, including the Judiciary chief, parliament speaker,  the heads of the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council, top political and military figures and party leaders as well as foreign diplomats residing in Tehran.

The parliamentary law stipulates that the new president should present his plans and introduce his ministers within two weeks after inauguration.

Pezeshkian won a runoff election on July 5, replacing President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May.

Following the Leader's official endorsement, Pezeshkian thanked Ayatollah Khamenei and the people, vowing to carry the "heavy burden" of the presidency.

Pezeshkian, 69,  is a heart surgeon who has represented the northwestern city of Tabriz in parliament since 2008. He also served as health minister in the second term of president Mohammad Khatami.

culled from Tehran Times

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