Iranian leader Ali Khamenei directed the newly elected president, Masoud Bezhakian, to continue the path of the late president Ebrahim Raisi and to utilize "loyal revolutionary human resources." Khamenei stated, "I advise everyone to cooperate and think well for the progress of the homeland and to enhance its dignity." He added, "I also recommend the elected president to look towards distant and bright horizons, have faith in God's mercy, continue the path of the martyr Raisi, and maximize the benefits of the country's abundant resources, especially the young, revolutionary, and loyal human resources, for the welfare of the people and the advancement of the country."
Khamenei recognized that the Iranian people managed to organize "the presidential elections within a short legal period and hold free and fair elections over two consecutive Fridays, electing a president from among several candidates" following the loss of the previous president. He further mentioned, "It is appropriate for competitive behaviors during elections to transform into friendly norms, and for everyone to do their utmost for the material and moral prosperity of the country."
On Saturday, it was announced that the reformist candidate Masoud Bezhakian won the second round of the presidential elections for the fourteenth term against conservative candidate Saeed Jalili. The new 69-year-old president pledged to adopt a pragmatic foreign policy and to ease tensions related to the currently stalled negotiations with major powers to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, as well as to improve the prospects for social liberties and political pluralism.
