Pezeshkian Sworn In as Iran's President

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and former heart surgeon, was sworn in as the Islamic Republic's ninth president on Tuesday at a ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries.

"I, as the president, in front of the Holy Quran 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.

Pezeshkian, 69, won the runoff race against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili on July 5, succeeding President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May.

Tuesday's ceremony followed the official endorsement by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who granted Pezeshkian presidential powers on Sunday.

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

The presidential election took place amid heightened regional tensions following the Gaza war in early October, ongoing disputes with Western powers over Iran's nuclear program, and domestic discontent over the sanctions-hit economy.

Senior officials from various countries, including Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Cuba and Brazil, attended the ceremony.

European Union envoy Enrique Mora was also present.

Representatives from regional Iran-backed allies, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Hezbollah deputy secretary general Naim Qassem, and Houthi rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam, were also in attendance.