Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian has been sworn in before parliament as the ninth president of Iran in a ceremony attended by over 70 foreign delegates, including senior officials and secretary generals of regional and international bodies.

At 4 pm Tehran local time, the formal ceremony began.

To cover the inauguration ceremony, up to 600 Iranian and international media have gathered at the parliament.

After being sworn in, the new Iranian president now has 15 days to present his cabinet to the legislature for a vote of confidence.

The 69-year-old Pezeshkian took an oath on the Holy Quran following the address given by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to open the event.

"I as the president, in front of the Holy Koran and the people of Iran, swear to almighty God to be the guardian of the official religion and the Islamic Republic system and the constitution of the country," Pezeshkian said at the ceremony which was broadcast live on state TV.

During his address, he said, "We will seek constructive and effective engagement with the world based on the principles of dignity, wisdom, and expediency," adding that Iran aspires to lead the region in economic, scientific, and technical domains.

"The world also needs to seize the unique opportunity to solve regional and global problems with the participation of a powerful, peace-seeking, and dignified Iran," he noted. 

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He criticized the United States and other Western nations for arming "Israel" during its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

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Later in his speech, the Iranian President emphasized that his government was prepared to engage in further talks with the major powers of the world to lift the sanctions against Iran. He also reminded Washington and the West that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He emphasized that Iran was still dedicated to upholding its end of the nuclear agreement.

Addressing the West, Pezeshkian said, "Pressure and sanctions do not work [in dealing with Iran]," as he called on them to respect Iran as it "has always stood on the right side of history."

"Iran is a safe, united, and stable country," he added, saying that "the countries in the region must not spend their valuable resources on conflict and war of attrition."

"My administration wants a strong region," he stressed.

According to Article 121 of the Iranian Constitution, the President swears an oath to utilize all his abilities and competencies in fulfilling the responsibilities he has committed to, concluding with the signing of the affidavit.

It is worth noting that the runoff election, held on July 5, saw Pezeshkian secure 16,384,403 votes following an inconclusive first round on June 28. This election was held to elect a successor for late president Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19, along with his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several others.