Iran’s newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian today took the oath of office before the Parliament to formally start his four-year term. Delegations from around 88 countries, along with senior Iranian government officials were present on the occasion. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Moderate reformist Pezeshkian defeated Saeed Jalili in a July 5 runoff with nearly 54 per cent of the vote. Jalili received just over 44 per cent. The snap election was called after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. The event comes two days after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei endorsed the results of the recent presidential election in Iran, allowing Pezeshkian to begin his journey as the ninth president of Iran.