With Iran’s economy ravaged by US sanctions, a grinding health crisis, and difficult nuclear deal negotiations, new President Ebrahim Raisi takes the oath before parliament on Thursday.
After being inaugurated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ultraconservative former judiciary chief began his four-year term on Tuesday.
Raisi succeeds moderate Hassan Rouhani, whose two-term administration was highlighted by the 2015 deal between the Islamic republic and six international powers.
Following US President Donald Trump’s decision to unilaterally remove the US from the deal in 2018 and reimpose crippling sanctions, the country has been in a profound economic and social crisis.
“We believe the people’s economic situation is unfavorable, both because of our enemies’ hatred and because of the country’s flaws and issues,” Raisi said on Tuesday.
He added that his new government will work to eliminate “oppressive” sanctions, but that it would “not tether the nation’s level of living to the will of foreigners.”
The US, Britain, and Israel have all issued warnings to Iran over a deadly tanker strike last week, which Tehran denies involvement for.
With over four million infections and upwards of 92,000 deaths, Iran is also fighting the Middle East’s deadliest epidemic of the Covid-19 pandemic.
