Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkain has named a former ambassador to Russia as his top political adviser.

Mehdi Sanaei was named Deputy for Political Affairs of the Iranian Presidency Office on Saturday in a decision announced by Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, the head of staff for Pezehkian.

He succeeds Mohammad Jamshidi, who served as former President Ebrahim Raisi's political advisor for three years.

Sanaei served as Iran's ambassador to Russia until 2019 and teaches at the University of Tehran's Russian Studies Department, part of the Faculty of World Studies.

The Iranian parliament has granted confidence to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government, speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced Wednesday, after lawmakers convened to cast a vote of confidence on the proposed cabinet, resulting in the approval of all nominated candidates.

After attending the final session of the review process Tuesday, Pezeshkian expressed optimism that parliament would endorse all his ministerial candidates.

Muslim unity would prevent Israeli, US crimes in the region: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said "Israel" and the United States "would not dare" commit any crimes in the region had the Muslim nation been united, in a statement condemning the 10-month-long genocide in Gaza. 

Pezeshkian made the comments during a ceremony on Saturday at Imam Khomeini’s shrine in southern Tehran, where he reaffirmed his cabinet's commitment to the principles of the late founder of the Islamic Republic at the start of Administration Week.

Addressing the atrocities committed by "Israel" in Gaza, the Iranian president questioned whether the occupation, the US, Europe, or any other power would have dared to act in this manner had Muslims been united. 

"Would Israel have dared to do a damn thing in this region if Muslims had been united? Not only them, but the US, Europe, and any other power, could they do any of these things?"