Ismail Haniyeh At Iran President’s Swearing-In With World Leaders Day Before Assassination, Gadkari In Attendance
Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political leader who was assassinated in Tehran, was last seen in public during the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. During the ceremony, many leaders were present including India’s Road Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari.
During the ceremony, the Indian politician conveyed his good wishes from Prime Minister Narendra to Masoud Pezeshkian in assuming the office, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
It said, “During Minister Nitin Gadkari’s interactions in Iran, both sides positively assessed the state of bilateral relations, including cooperation on the development of Chabahar Port,” it said. The MEA said both sides underscored that Chabahar Port would contribute to strengthening bilateral and regional trade.
During the ceremony, Pezeshkian said “We will pursue constructive and effective interaction with the world based on dignity, wisdom, and expediency… Those who supply weapons that kill children cannot teach Muslims about humanity”. He made the remarks to the chants of “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel”.
Leaders of Iran’s Palestinian allies Hamas, including Haniyeh, and the Islamic Jihad as well as senior representatives of Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi movement and Lebanon’s Hezbollah attended the ceremony.
The event was also attended by senior officials from various countries, including Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Cuba, and Brazil. European Union envoy Enrique Mora was also present.
Pezeshkian was last elected as the President after Ebrahim Raisi, the former President of the country was killed in a helicopter crash last May.
As the ultimate authority in Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei retains final say on all state matters, including foreign and nuclear policy. He must approve Pezeshkian’s cabinet appointments, including for the foreign, oil, and intelligence ministers.
