TEHRAN, July  30, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Iranian reformist Masoud Pezeshkian was
sworn in before parliament on Tuesday as the Islamic republic's ninth president
at a ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries.

Pezeshkian won a runoff race against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili on July
5 to replace president Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May.

Tuesday's ceremony came two days after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei officially endorsed Pezeshkian and gave the 69-year-old heart surgeon
presidential powers.

"I as the president, in front of the Holy Koran and the people of Iran,
swear to almighty God to be the guardian of the official religion and the
Islamic Republic system and the constitution of the country," Pezeshkian said
at the ceremony which was broadcast live on state TV.

Pezeshkian, who is expected to unveil his government within two weeks, had
secured more than 16 million votes during the runoff, or about 54 percent of
the roughly 30 million ballots cast.

Iran's presidential election took place against a backdrop of heightened
regional tensions since the Gaza war began in early October, disputes with
Western powers over Iran's nuclear programme and domestic discontent over the
state of the sanctions-hit economy.

Tuesday's ceremony was attended by senior officials from several countries
including Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
Azerbaijan, Cuba and Brazil.

European Union envoy Enrique Mora was also present.

Regional Iran-backed allies were also in attendance, namely Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh and the head of the Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement was represented by the group's deputy
secretary general Naim Qassem while the Yemen's Huthi rebels sent spokesman
Mohammed Abdulsalam.

- 'Death to Israel' -

Haniyeh and Nakhalah, whose groups have been fighting Israel in the Gaza
Strip since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, met with Khamenei and
Pezeshkian.

"Supporting the cause of the oppressed Palestinian nation will continue
with strength, and no factor can disrupt our will in this direction," said
Pezeshkian on Monday.

Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony came amid concerns of war between Israel and
Lebanon's Hezbollah following a Saturday rocket attack on the Israeli-annexed
Golan Heights.

Israel has accused Hezbollah of responsibility for the attack that killed
12 children but the Iran-backed Lebanese group has denied any involvement.

During his inauguration speech, Pezeshkian slammed Israel's "crimes" in the
Gaza Strip with some Iranians present in parliament chanting "Death to Israel,
Death to America!"

"Those who supply the weapons that kill children in Gaza cannot teach
humanity and tolerance to others," he said in reference to the United States.

Iran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its
foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution, and hailed Hamas's October 7
attack on Israel.

Iran's president is not head of state, and the ultimate authority rests
with the supreme leader -- a post held by Khamenei for the last 35 years.

On Monday, Pezeshkian warned Israel against attacking Lebanon, saying such
an act would have "heavy consequences".

Since his election, Iran's new president has reaffirmed support for the
so-called "axis of resistance", Tehran-aligned groups such as Hezbollah and the
Huthis, that support Hamas against arch-foe Israel.

Pezeshkian was the only candidate representing Iran's reformist camp
allowed to stand in Iran's presidential election, for which all contenders were
approved by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council.

In his speech on Tuesday, he also reaffirmed his willingness to end Iran's
isolation, saying "I will not stop on the path of lifting the cruel sanctions".

During his campaign, he had vowed to try and revive a 2015 nuclear deal
with world powers which collapsed in 2018 after the United States unilaterally
withdrew from agreement.

The deal had given Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear
activity.

Pezeshkian has recently called for "constructive relations" with European
countries, even though he accused them of reneging on commitments to mitigate
the impact of renewed US sanctions.