Political Endorsement: Supreme Leader Khamenei Formally Installs Pezeshkian as Iran’s Ninth President

At the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in Tehran on Sunday morning, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as the ninth president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The formal 'Tanfiz' (endorsement) ceremony was attended by high-ranking military commanders, senior clerics, and foreign diplomats, marking the transition from the interim administration of Mohammad Mokhber to the Pezeshkian government. During the ceremony, the Supreme Leader’s office read out the decree confirming Pezeshkian’s victory in the July 5 runoff election, where he secured approximately 54% of the 30 million ballots cast. In his address, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the priority for the incoming administration must be economic recovery and the improvement of the Iranian people's livelihood, which has been severely impacted by years of U.S.-led sanctions. He further articulated a foreign policy vision centered on 'neighborhood policy,' urging the new president to strengthen ties with the 14 nations bordering Iran, as well as partners in Asia and Africa. Notably, Khamenei reiterated a harsh stance against Israel, describing the 'Zionist regime' as a criminal entity and praising Palestinian resistance in Gaza. President Pezeshkian, in his first official remarks, pledged to adhere to the principles of justice and fairness while seeking 'constructive and efficient' engagement with the world to secure the removal of sanctions. Shortly after the ceremony, Pezeshkian made his first administrative move by appointing Mohammad Reza Aref, a veteran reformist politician and former vice president under Mohammad Khatami, as his First Vice President. This appointment is viewed by analysts as a signal to the reformist base that supported his candidacy. However, the President’s powers remain limited by the constitutional authority of the Supreme Leader and the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over strategic regional and nuclear policies. Pezeshkian is scheduled to take his formal oath of office before the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) on Tuesday, where he will present his proposed cabinet for approval. The international community is closely watching the new president’s ability to navigate the hardline-dominated legislature while attempting to revive nuclear negotiations.