Ayatollah Khamenei supports new president Masoud Pezeshkian

(Patria) - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially supported Masoud Pezeshkian for the new president yesterday and instructed him to focus on nurturing relations with Iran's neighbors, not with Western countries.

The endorsement, known as tanfiz, means Pezeshkian's presidency has officially begun, even though he will not be sworn in until July 30.

The televised ceremony in Tehran was attended by senior military and political officials, as well as foreign diplomats, Radio Free Europe reports.

Khamenei described Pezeshkian as a wise, honest, popular, and learned figure in his decree.

A reformist, Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon by training, is a former health minister and a multi-term lawmaker. Pezeshkian was elected president earlier in July in snap elections held after the death of hardline President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.

Khamenei, Iran's highest religious and political authority, has the final say on all state matters. He says the foreign policy of Pezeshkian's government should prioritize "countries that have supported Iran during these years of facing pressures inside and outside the UN".

Those countries, he said, include Iran's neighbors, as well as African and Asian states. The Supreme Leader added that European countries are not a priority in Iran's foreign policy "due to their bad behavior regarding issues like sanctions and oil".

- They will become a priority if they put aside their bad behavior. Of course, we will never forget the hostile behavior of some countries - said the 85-year-old Khamenei.

Iran has long accused European countries of failing to fulfill their obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal after the US withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions targeting Iran's economy and oil sector. Iran then abandoned its obligations and expanded its nuclear program.

Speaking after Khamenei's endorsement, Pezeshkian spoke of the "need for reforms" but added that he would strive to "implement the general policies of the Supreme Leader".