IRAN’S supreme leader has formally endorsed Masoud Pezeshkian as the country’s new president today.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei formally endorsed Mr Pezeshkian as the new Iranian president following his run-off election win earlier this month to replace Ebrahim Raisi who was killed in a helicopter crash.

During an endorsement ceremony, Mr Khamenei urged Mr Pezeshkian to prioritise neighbours, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have “supported and helped” Iran in Tehran’s foreign relations policies.

The Ayatollah criticised European nations for “behaving badly to us” by adopting sanctions, an oil embargo and for calling out alleged human rights abuses.

Speaking at the same ceremony, Mr Pezeshkian paid homage to General Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a United States drone attack in 2020. He reiterated his promise to pursue a “constructive and efficient” foreign policy, bolster the rule of law, offer equal opportunities to citizens, support families and protect the environment.

In his first official act in office, Mr Pezeshkian appointed Mohammad Reza Aref as his first vice-president. 

Mr Aref held the post between 2001-5 under former president Mohammad Khatami.

The new Iranian president pledged in his election campaign that he would make no radical changes to Iran’s Shi’ite theocracy, embracing Mr Khamenei as the final arbiter in all matters of state.