Congratulations have poured in from world leaders to Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian, who defeated hardline challenger Saeed Jalili in the second round of Iran’s presidential election.
Pezeshkian, who has promised to open Iran to the world, convincingly won the runoff election and will become the country’s ninth president-elect.
He was the only moderate candidate in the election and won 53.7% of the vote, or 16.3 million out of more than 30 million ballots cast. His rival, Saeed Jalili, won 44.3%, or 13.5 million.
Pezeshkian acknowledged the difficult road ahead, but called on all Iranians to help him.
“I extend my hand to you and swear on my honour that I will not leave you alone on this road. Don’t leave me alone,” he said, quoted by Aljazeera, Sunday (7/7).
World leaders congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Pezeshkian and hoped it would contribute to Russia-Iran relations.
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“I hope that your term as president will contribute to strengthening constructive bilateral cooperation between our friendly peoples,” Putin said.
Before the election, Putin met with Iran’s interim President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Russia and Iran have negotiated a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
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Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also congratulated Pezeshkian, state news agency SPA reported.
“I affirm my keenness to develop and deepen relations between our countries and peoples and serve our common interests,” Salman said.
In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations through a China-brokered deal following years of tensions.
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Since then, they have increased contact periodically in an effort to strengthen the relationship.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev further welcomed Pezeshkian’s electoral success and said Azerbaijan places great importance on 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 said, inviting Pezeshkian to visit his country.
Iran’s elections were scheduled for 2025 but were held early following President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of the Iran-Azerbaijan border on May 19 following a meeting with Aliyev to inaugurate a joint dam project.
Then Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil congratulated Iran on its demonstrated commitment to democracy during the two rounds of presidential voting.
“Venezuela expressed its confidence that the decisions made by the Iranian people will contribute to the prosperity of this nation, as well as its consolidation as a new power in the emerging multipolar world,” Gil’s statement said.
Pezeshkian will have the full support of Venezuelan President Nicolas 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.
In a message to Pezeshkian, Chinese 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 progress.”
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.
“Facing the complex regional and international situation, China and Iran have always supported each other, cooperated with each other, and continuously strengthened mutual strategic trust,” he added.
India’s turn, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looks forward to working closely with Pezeshkian to further strengthen the warm and long-established bilateral relations for the benefit of our people and this region.
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid also congratulated Iran and the president-elect, 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 countries and neighboring peoples.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he looked forward to working closely with Pezeshkian, and promoting peace and stability in the region.
“As neighboring countries, Pakistan and Iran share a close and historic relationship. We must ensure a bright future for both our peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation,” he wrote in X.
In his congratulatory speech, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, prayed for Pezeshkian to live long and healthy, and for the prosperity and progress of the Islamic Republic.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Iran is one of the most important countries with which we want to ensure relations are at their peak.
“These relations are based on the roots formed over decades through mutual respect, common understanding and strong principles that Syria and Iran have always adhered to. We will work with you to enhance the strategic relations between Syria and Iran and open new promising horizons for bilateral cooperation because resistance will remain the common approach that we follow to preserve the pride of our countries and defend the interests of their peoples,” al-Assad added.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated Pezeshkian and wished him success and further development and prosperity of joint relations. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko called Pezeshkian’s victory an unconditional victory of the Iranian people.
“The results of the vote confirm your high political authority and are evidence of public support for the country’s leadership’s course in defending Iran’s national interests, creating prospects for its citizens, and cooperation with the countries of your region,” Belta news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying.
“The dialogue between Minsk and Tehran at all levels continues to develop. I am confident that in the near future we will be able to implement all the agreements reached, including the agreement to upgrade Belarus-Iran relations to a strategic partnership.”
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said he wished Pezeshkian success in his role and looked forward to working together to further strengthen relations between the UAE and Iran for the benefit of both countries and peoples.
The UAE has had trade ties with Tehran for decades, but stepped up ties in 2019 following downgrading them three years earlier. In April, the two countries held a joint economic cooperation commission meeting for the first time in 10 years. (Z-1)
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