Iran’s New President Sworn In, Vows to Combat Economic Sanctions

Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist politician and heart surgeon, was sworn in as Iran’s new president on Tuesday, following the death of his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi in a May helicopter crash. Pezeshkian, who won the July election, pledged to continue efforts to lift economic sanctions imposed by the West over Iran’s nuclear program.
In his inauguration speech, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s right to normalize economic relations globally and expressed optimism about the future. He vowed to persist in removing what he described as oppressive sanctions, which have severely impacted Iran’s oil exports, international banking transactions, and inflation rates.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed Pezeshkian and urged him to focus on relationships with neighboring countries, Africa, and Asia, as well as those nations that have supported Iran. Pezeshkian has two weeks to form his Cabinet for parliamentary approval.
The economic sanctions, exacerbated by former President Donald Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal, have led to a dramatic decline in the value of the Iranian rial and increased inflation. Despite indirect talks with the Biden administration, there has been no clear progress on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions or easing the sanctions.
Pezeshkian’s inauguration was attended by representatives from over 70 countries, including EU nuclear talks coordinator Enrique Mora, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahman, and leaders from Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In his speech, Pezeshkian voiced strong support for Palestinians, calling for an end to occupation and oppression.
Iran has faced significant challenges, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and fears of nuclear escalation. In April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel amid the Gaza conflict, while Iranian-backed militias, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, have intensified their activities in the region.