Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Hints At Improving Ties With West

In a televised speech, Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei indicated that his country is open to easing diplomatic ties with the West. Iran’s leader hinted towards a more conciliatory approach towards the Western countries under the new president.

The Iranian Supreme leader formally confirmed Masoud Pezeshkian as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This formal recognition is a legal formality to start the Presidential term of Pezeshkian. He will sworn into the office in the presence of dozens of foreign dignitaries on Tuesday.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran was treated badly in the past by the Western states, especially through sanctions that impacted its economy and oil exports.

Read also: Iran Elections: Who Is Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s President-elect?

Khamenei said that Tehran could reconsider its diplomatic relations with the Western countries “if they change their ill conduct”. Iran has been critical of the European leadership mainly the UK, France, and Germany, the signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal for failing to meet their commitments to revive the agreement after it was abandoned in 2018 by then-US President Donald Trump.

Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old veteran reformist and long-time lawmaker, defeated hardline diplomat Saeed Jalili who is known for his critical views about the West. Pezeshkian reiterated his commitment to pursue constructive and effective external diplomacy and emphasized unifying the nations’ fragmented political landscape.

Revival of the nuclear deal remained a cornerstone of the Pezeshkian’s campaign and reportedly, Khamenei earlier hinted that the objective was still within reach. The supreme leader also said to remove all sanctions via honourable means and praised a 2020 law that intensified Iran’s atomic work.