Iran Swears In President Ebrahim Raisi as Unease Grows in West

For the 1st time in many years, all branches of power in Iran are below the regulate of hard-liners just after a protégé of the supreme leader was sworn in as president, bolstering their power and including to increasing unease that the Islamic Republic’s relations with the West could worsen.

President Ebrahim Raisi, sixty many years previous, studied as a youthful man at a single of Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei’s Islamic seminaries. He also served on a panel that ordered the execution of 1000’s of political prisoners. Afterwards, he moved up by the ranks to direct Iran’s judiciary.

His inauguration Thursday, just after an election in which most of his rivals have been disqualified, is established to consolidate power among hard-line loyalists of Mr. Khamenei just as Iran and the West are making an attempt to revive a offer that boundaries Tehran’s nuclear capabilities in return for lifting debilitating financial sanctions.

In his 1st speech as president, Mr. Raisi struck a conciliatory tone at moments, emphasizing the worth of making sure that Iran can trade freely with the rest of the planet. “We will support any diplomatic system that would know this purpose,” he said.

But Mr. Raisi also warned overseas nations around the world from acquiring involved in regional disputes, indicating his election acquire in June represented a need from voters to thrust back again from “the extreme calls for of the arrogant and tyrannical powers of the planet.”