The tenure of four years was formally launched by the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, through an oath-taking ceremony in the Parliament House in the presence of representatives from almost 90 countries. It began with an inaugural speech by the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, after which 69-year-old Pezeshkian swore on the Holy Quran.
In the oath, Pezeshkian vowed to utilize all his capability to bear out his duties as the President of the Islamic Republic. In an address to follow, Pezeshkian called on the international community to "avail themselves of the valuable opportunity of solving regional and global problems with the participation of a powerful, peace-seeking, and dignified Iran," Mehr News reported.
He underlined Iran's commitment to constructive and effective global engagement based on dignity, wisdom, and expediency. He was ready to go forward with the administration's negotiations with key world powers for the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions and, at the same time, to reiterate that the Iranian nuclear program is peaceful and has repeatedly been confirmed such by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He went ahead to reaffirm his country's compliance with the nuclear deal, while at the same time criticizing pressure and sanctions. Respect from the Western powers should be accorded to the Iranian nation, he urged. Drawing attention to the situation in Gaza, he condemned the U.S. and some Western countries for supplying arms to Israel.
Calling for regional detente, he underlined the need for avoiding resource-draining conflicts and wars. He said that his administration is keen to have a strong region and wishes Iran to turn into a leading power in the economic, scientific, and technological fields of the region.
The inauguration ceremony, which started at 1540 local time, was also attended by delegations from 88 countries and senior Iranian officials. The guests included the presidents of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon; the Georgian prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze; the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan; the Syrian prime minister, Hussein Arnous; the Cuban prime minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz.
Other distinguished guests included Duma Speaker of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Ati, Saudi Arabian Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Deputy Chief of European Union Foreign Policy Enrique Mora. India was represented by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan.
Other visiting foreign dignitaries included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi; Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, Ashimbayev Maulen Sagathanuly; Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato Johari bin Abdul; the President of the National Assembly of Senegal, Amadou Mame Diop.
The gathering was also attended by delegations of Hamas, Hezbollah resistance movement, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement and Ansarullah of Yemen. The conference came after two days that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei officially approved the results of the presidential election, paving the way for Pezeshkian to officially assume office as the ninth president of Iran.
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