Iran - July 31, 2024

Storyline:
Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn in as Iran's ninth president on Tuesday in a ceremony held at Tehran's parliament, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, military commanders, and representatives from 88 countries and 10 international organizations.

Following his oath-taking before parliament, Pezeshkian outlined his administration's goals, focusing on Iran's economic development, national interests, and improving citizens' lives.

He highlighted key foreign policy objectives aimed at safeguarding national security and enhancing economic prosperity within the framework of "dignity, wisdom, and expediency."

Pezeshkian condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, criticizing bombings that affected civilians, including women and children, and those who supported such actions.

Pezeshkian also pointed out that Iran values the friendship with friendly countries, and will continue to enhance its relations with them. He called on Western countries to recognize the reality, and engage in dialogue with Iran on the basis of mutual respect.

In response to the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and the West, Pezeshkian said that the normalization of economic and trade relations between countries is Iran's inalienable right, and he will continue to seek to lift the oppressive sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran. But at the same time, he stressed that Iran will never yield to the coercion, pressure and double standard of the U.S. and Western countries.

Pezeshkian, 69, emerged as the winner on July 6 in the country's presidential elections and was officially endorsed by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as Iran's ninth president on Sunday.

He now has 15 days to submit his proposed cabinet to parliament for approval.

Shotlist:
Tehran, Iran - July 30, 2024:
1. Various of president oath-taking ceremony in progress; attendees;
2. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's ninth president:
"We value the friendship with those countries that have stood with Iran in difficult times, we will strengthen the relations with the emerging countries of the Global South, and we will work to strengthen the friendship with our neighbors to the East and with Farsi-speaking nations. We call on Western countries to recognize the reality and develop relations with Iran based on mutual respect. Iran is prepared to engage in dialogue with the governments that do not yet understand the dignity of the Iranian nation, in order to prevent tensions from spreading."
3. Various of ceremony in progress; Pezeshkian speaking; attendees.

[Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International TV]