On August 3, 2021, in a ceremony attended by top government and military officials, Ebrahim RAISI was officially endorsed as Iran’s new president by the country’s Supreme Leader Ali KHAMENEI.

The endorsement ceremony of the incoming president, which comes ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, represents the official confirmation of the new president and an end of the term of the incumbent administration.

After receiving the endorsement certificate, the new president said his administration will work for “change”.

Ayatollah Ali KHAMENEI advised RAISI, in his speech to “empower the country’s poor people and improve the national currency”.

Ebrahim RAISI a conservative cleric is 60 years old, and he served previously as the judiciary chief. He has served in several positions in Iran’s judicial system, such as Deputy Chief Justice (2004–2014), Attorney General (2014–2016), and Chief Justice (2019–2021). He was also Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran in the 1980s and 1990s. He was Custodian and Chairman of Astan Quds Razavi, a bonyad, from 2016 until 2019.

He had been one of the strongest critics of the ROUHANI administration’s economic policies.

“The people’s demand from the new government is change and this change is inevitable” RAISI said.

He said his administration will “strive to lift sanctions” but will not tie people’s livelihood to the West, a reiteration of his “neighbors first” policy that he has often spoken about.

KHAMENEI urged RAISI to follow up on his slogan of “popular government”, be the “face of unity” and “talk honestly to people”.

Ayatollah Ali KHAMENEI said the government must “stand up to corruption”, and “avoid hasty economic decisions” to solve economic problems.

RAISI will be sworn in as the new president on August 5, 2021, with an expected attendance of officials from at least 70 countries. During the ceremony he will present also his cabinet including his picks for minister of foreign affairs and minister of petroleum.

RAISI said he wants to continue negotiations with world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which have been put on hold until he takes office. He has signaled that he won’t make the issue the centerpiece of his foreign policy.

This article was edited using the data from the Presstv.ir, Aa.com.tr, Bloomberg.com, Apnews.com, Tehrantimes.com, Reuters.com, En.wikipedia.org and, English.alaraby.co.uk.