Iran’s new President Ebrahim Raisi has been widely hailed as the advent of a New Iran. With his Cabinet assuming office this week, the country is widely expected to move in a new direction both domestically and globally.
During his swearing-in ceremony, President Raisi elaborated on his incoming government’s agenda.
Raisi put his election win in the broader context of change in Iran’s course of history.
“At the beginning of the new century and the beginning of the second step of the revolution, I am very proud to have been honoured by the people and with their vote to protect such a heritage,” he said.
Raisi referred to the start of the century in Iran’s calendar and Ayatollah Khamenei’s proclamation of the Second Step of the Revolution, a strategy outlined by the leader that determines Iran’s future path for decades to come.
He made it clear that his election was another collective effort on the part of the Iranian people to bring about prosperity.
The new president underlined this effort.
“The message of the Iranian people in the recent election was the message of change and justice,” he said.
“The Iranian nation stood against the East and the West to prove that religious democracy is a new way of governing that can bring independence and freedom, religion and the world, tradition and progress together.”
He said Iran was entering a new century in which the sun of religious democracy has risen for more than 40 years and is now in the period of excellence and completion of its movement at the beginning of the Second Step.
Raisi takes office at a time when Iran is moving toward a resuscitation of the economy using domestic capacities as a solution for existing problems after years of Western reneging on their commitments under a 2015 landmark deal between Iran and world powers known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
But he let it be known that sanctions can’t force Iranians into giving up their legitimate rights.
The policy of pressure and sanctions will not cause the Iranian people to give up pursuing their legal rights, including the right to development.
Using the country's facilities, which are very diverse and valuable, definitely requires the selection of hard-working and motivated officials to use the existing capacities to meet the economic challenges at the highest level.
From this perspective, Raisi appointment of the new Cabinet should be the beginning of a new movement to bring about change in Iran.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
