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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has officially endorsed reformist politician Masoud Pezeshkian as the country’s next president.
Khamenei’s endorsement at a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials, politicians and diplomats on Sunday allows Pezeshkian, who won Iran’s presidential election earlier this month, to begin forming his government.
Pezeshkian, who campaigned on promises to revitalise the economy, relax hardline social policies and improve foreign relations, will take the oath of office before parliament on Tuesday. His full cabinet’s confirmation by parliament may take several weeks.
In a speech, Pezeshkian reiterated his promise to establish a “national unity” government, adding that this task would be “impossible without the convergence of all forces”.
For Iran to become a developed nation, legitimate freedoms and social justice must be guaranteed and nepotism combated, he said.
Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate decision maker on key domestic and foreign affairs, said the “people chose a deserving president” and urged political forces to avoid polarising the political atmosphere.
The new president’s words were “definitive and profound, reflecting his commitment to the true principles of Islamic democracy”, Khamenei said.
Pezeshkian’s election follows the death of hardline president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
Analysts attribute Pezeshkian’s victory in the election’s second round to voter fears that Iran’s most hardline elements might gain power and his promises of change from Raisi’s stringent policies.
The 69-year-old former health minister and seasoned parliamentarian has pledged to alleviate the impact of US sanctions through negotiations with world powers while seeking a broad consensus at home to prevent hardliners from sabotaging his efforts.
However, many in Iran and western capitals are sceptical about Pezeshkian’s ability to soften the regime’s stance on issues such as its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, military ties with Russia and support for anti-Israel militias in the Middle East.
Khamenei said the top foreign policy priority was to improve relations with neighbouring states, while ties with Asian and African countries should be expanded.
The supreme leader added that Iran was “not hostile” towards European states, but unhappy with what he said was their “bad behaviour” on issues such as US sanctions.
Opposition from hardline factions stymied reforms by previous reformist and centrist Iranian presidents. But some analysts said Pezeshkian’s approach of pledging to adhere to Khamenei’s guidelines while maintaining a distinct strategy might give him more room to manoeuvre.
Pezeshkian has promised his cabinet appointments will be made in consultation with Khamenei.
Unusually, he has established a “steering” council led by former foreign minister Javad Zarif — who negotiated Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers — to help choose his ministers. This move has drawn criticism from hardliners, with the newspaper Kayhan accusing politicians on the council of past corruption, collaboration with foreign intelligence services and defending homosexuality.
Meanwhile, reformists warned Pezeshkian not to compromise too much in his efforts to create a national unity government. Abbas Abdi, a reformist analyst who advised Pezeshkian during his campaign, said appointing ministers from rival camps would render elections “meaningless”.
Sunday’s ceremony came on a day Iran suffered nationwide electricity shortages that highlighted the country’s unbalanced energy supplies.
“This coincidence of the first official working day of the president with a nationwide day off due to electricity shortage is symbolic,” wrote Saeed Shariati, a former reformist political prisoner. “Pezeshkian is taking over the country at a time it is in ‘shut down’ mode.”