Khamenei endorses Raisi presidency in Tehran ceremony

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei endorsed the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi in a ceremony in Tehran Tuesday morning, urging him to form a popular government that listens to the people. 

Raisi said his government will begin work with a short-term plan to address a list of urgent issues related to the economy and service delivery, including the budget deficit, market stability, inflation, the coronavirus pandemic, water and electricity services, unemployment, and people’s livelihoods. 

“I seek to serve the people, to administer justice,” he said. 

He inherits major challenges of a crippled economy, a health crisis, and tensions with the West.

The landmark deal that saw Iran curb its nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting sanctions was a hallmark of the administration of outgoing President Hassan Rouhani. That deal was jeopardized when former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions that strangled Iran’s oil exports and its economy. Trump’s successor Joe Biden wants to rejoin the accord, but negotiations in Vienna were put on hold until Raisi takes office, leaving Rouhani apologizing that he had not been able to complete the task during his tenure.  

Tehran is wary about recommitting to a deal that requires it to trust Western nations. Raisi, at the ceremony on Tuesday, said he would seek to “eliminate and lift tyrannical sanctions,” but cautioned, “we will not tie everything to foreigners.”

On the health front, Iran is one of the nations hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, battling the virus while under strict sanctions. On Monday, another 411 people died, bringing the total death toll to over 91,000. There have been nearly 4 million cases of the virus in Iran.

Tensions with Western nations are high after Iran was blamed for an attack on an Israeli-linked ship off the coast of Oman last week that killed two people. The United States said it is working with partners to formulate an “appropriate response.”

Domestically, several people were killed in protests over water shortages in Khuzestan province last month. 

Khamenei praised Raisi’s focus on administering justice and combatting corruption, saying “this is the right path.”

Noting that Raisi had highlighted the need to listen to the people, Khamenei urged “honest dialogue” between the government and the public. He recommended Raisi prioritize combatting corruption and boosting the economy. 

Raisi will take the oath of office in parliament on Thursday and Khamenei advised the legislature to quickly approve Raisi’s cabinet so that the government can get to work.

Raisi faces a further possible challenge from a court case in Sweden that is due to begin next week. A Swedish court is putting on trial an Iranian citizen accused of “war crimes” in connection with 1988 prison massacres when as many as 5,000 prisoners were executed. The trial, which will hear from numerous witnesses and victims, may reveal information about Raisi’s alleged role. He is believed to have been a member of a “death committee” that oversaw the massacres. He was deputy prosecutor general of Tehran at the time.