Ebrahim Raisi sworn in as Iran president

Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi (Bottom R) takes oath of office in parliament, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2021. Image by M. Sadeq Nikgostar via Fars News Agency

Raisi, who won the country’s 13th presidential election by a landslide, takes over from Hassan Rouhani, as Iran is facing an economy battered by U.S. sanctions, a Covid -19 crisis and negotiations on its nuclear program. The former judiciary chief has already vowed “not to tie the nation's standard of living to the will of foreigners" and to seek to lift U.S. sanctions.

Raisi, who the country’s 13th presidential election by a landslide, takes over from Hassan Rouhani, as Iran is facing an economy battered by U.S. sanctions, a Covid -19 crisis and negotiations on its nuclear program. The former judiciary chief has already vowed “not to tie the nation's standard of living to the will of foreigners" and to seek to lift U.S. sanctions.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by high-ranking Iranian civil and military officials, as well as a great number of foreign dignitaries from more than 70 countries.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Head of the Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei were the two keynote speakers, both of whom emphasized on cooperating with the new administration to solve the economic problems the country is facing, and to eliminate corruption and discrimination.

The new president officially began his four-year mandate on Tuesday, when he was inaugurated by Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Iran has been grappling with a deep economic crisis following former president Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally withdraw the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal and impose crushing sanctions on Iran. Six rounds of talks were held in Vienna between April and June in an attempt to revive the deal. Iranian and

Western officials have said significant gaps remain and are yet to announce when the talks will resume.