Masoud Pezeshkian, who promised to open Iran to the world, decisively won the second round and will become the country’s ninth elected president.
The only moderate candidate in the race received 53.7% of the vote, or 16.3 million of the more than 30 million votes cast. His rival Saeed Jalili got 44.3%, or 13.5 million.
On Saturday, Pezeshkian acknowledged “the difficult road ahead” but reached out to all Iranians. “I extend my hand to you and I swear on my honor that I will not leave you alone on this path. Do not leave me alone.
World leaders congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory.
Russia
President Vladimir Putin congratulated Pezeshkian and said he hoped this would contribute to Russia-Iran relations.
“I hope that your term as president will contribute to strengthening constructive bilateral cooperation between our friendly peoples,” said Putin.
Before the election, Putin met with interim Iranian President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Russia and Iran have been negotiating a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Saudi Arabia
King Salman and the crown prince congratulated Pezeshkian, state news agency SPA reported.
“I affirm my enthusiasm for developing and deepening relations between our countries and our people and serving our mutual interests,” said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in an agreement brokered by China, after years of tensions. Since then, they have increased regular contact in an effort to strengthen relationships.
Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Pezeshkian’s electoral success and said Azerbaijan attaches “great importance” to relations with Iran.
“I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will ensure further strengthening of traditional friendly relations and expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran, in line with the interests of our peoples and countries,” Aliyev told invite Pezeshkian to visit.
Iranian elections were scheduled for 2025, but were held shortly after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan, on May 19, after a meeting with Aliyev to inaugurate a joint project of dam.
Venezuela
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yvan Gil, congratulated Iran for its “demonstrated commitment to democracy” during the two rounds of the presidential vote.
“Venezuela expresses its conviction that the decision taken by the Iranian people will contribute to the prosperity of this nation, as well as to its consolidation as an emerging power in the emerging multipolar world,” Gil’s statement read.
Pezeshkian will count on the “absolute support” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government with the aim of expanding relations and continuing to defeat “hegemonic pretensions that threaten multilateralism and world peace”.
Iran and Venezuela are close allies and signed a 20-year strategic cooperation plan in 2022, during Maduro’s visit to Tehran.
China
In his message to Pezeshkian, President Xi Jinping said: “I attach great importance to the development of China-Iran relations and am willing to work with the President to lead the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership towards deeper advancement.”
The two countries “have a long history of friendly exchanges and bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development… for more than half a century,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“Faced with complex regional and international situations, China and Iran have always supported each other, worked together and continued to consolidate strategic mutual trust,” he added.
India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “looking forward to working closely” with Pezeshkian “to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region.”
Congratulations @drpezeshkian on your election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-lasting bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region.
-Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2024
Iraq
President Abdul Latif Rashid congratulated both Iran and the elected president, “wishing him success in his official duties and in fulfilling the ambitions and aspirations of the Iranian people.”
In a post on X, he said: “We affirm our desire to strengthen relations between Iraq and Iran in a way that serves the interests of both neighboring countries and peoples.”
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he looks forward to working closely with Pezeshkian and promoting peace and stability in the region.
“As neighboring countries, Pakistan and Iran enjoy a close and historic relationship. We must ensure a bright future for our two peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation,” he wrote in X.
Sincere congratulations to my brother, Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian, on his victory in Iran’s presidential elections! I look forward to working closely with President-elect Dr. Pezeshkian to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran bilateral ties and promote regional peace and stability. As…
-Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 6, 2024
Kuwait
In his congratulatory message, Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah wished Pezeshkian a long and healthy life and “further prosperity and development for the Islamic Republic.”
Syria
President Bashar al-Assad said Iran is “one of the most important countries with which we are committed to ensuring that the relationship is at its peak.”
“This relationship builds on roots established over decades of mutual respect, common understanding and firm principles to which Syria and Iran have always adhered.
“We will work with you to boost the Syrian-Iranian strategic relationship and open promising new horizons for bilateral cooperation, as resistance will continue to be the common approach we follow to preserve the pride of our countries and defend the interests of their people.” al-Assad added.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
