Iran's new president takes oath of office
New Iranian president Massoud Pezeshkian took the oath of office in parliament on Tuesday, after his victory in the election run-off on 5 July.
The 69-year-old called for reforms during his campaign. He wants to restore trust between the government and the people and criticised the regime’s heavy-handed response to protests that took place in the aftermath of Mahsa Amini’s death. The young woman died in September 2022 after she was targeted by the country’s “morality police” for not wearing her headscarf correctly.
However, Pezeshkian is seen by observers as a man of the regime. The former health minister supports the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian army’s controversial elite corps, and is tough on arch-rival Israel. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continues to effectively rule Iran.
Pezeshkian succeeds Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on 19 May.
Massoud Pezeshkian casts his vote during the presidential election in Tehran, 28 June 2024 © PHOTO ATTA KENARE / AFP
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