Tehran, 7 August 2021 -(TDI): Ebrahim Raisi swore into office as Iran’s eighth President in an inauguration ceremony held in Tehran, on Thursday.
The 60-year old Raisi had won the presidential elections that were held in June and replaced his predecessor Ayatollah Khamenei.
During his inaugural speech, he contended that Iran uses diplomacy and healthy relations with the world as part of its national interests. In addition, he claimed that Iran’s power serves as a ‘security-building factor’ in the region which promotes peace and stability and counters the threat of oppressive powers.
Vowing to improve relations with other states in the Middle East he stated “I extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood to all countries in the region, especially our neighbours”.
Regarding the US imposed sanctions, the President said that they should be abolished and that Iran would encourage diplomatic plans for achieving the same.
Moreover, he confirmed that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and that “such weapons have no place in the defence strategy of the Islamic Republic.”
Officials from 82 countries including several heads of the states and 12 international and regional organizations attended President Ebrahim Raisi’s oath-taking ceremony.
The high-level representatives that participated included Iraqi President Braham Salih, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Pakistani Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjirani, and Russian Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin.
Other delegates included Turkey’s Speaker of Grand National Assembly Mustafa Sentop, Azerbaijani National Assembly Chairman Sahiba Gafarova, Syrian Parliament Speaker Hammouda Sabbagh, Palestinian Hamas political leader Ismail Haiyef and Yemeni Houthis’ spokesperson.
Representatives from Europe, Africa and South America were also present.
