Western Diplomats in Tehran Skeptical About Improved Relations with Iran Under New President

08 July

Western diplomats in Tehran express skepticism about the prospects for improved relations with Iran under its new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a report by The Financial Times (FT) citing anonymous sources.

 

These diplomats believe that Iran's political system, heavily influenced by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will hinder Pezeshkian from enacting significant internal reforms or altering the country's foreign policy. "We are listening to Pezeshkian's words with great interest, but the time for words has passed. We need action," a Western diplomat told the FT.

 

The second round of Iran's presidential election, held on July 5 following the death of the incumbent president, Ebrahim Raisi, saw Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and former health minister, win with 53.6% of the vote. His conservative opponent, Saeed Jalili, received 44.3%.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Zuma\TASS

Based on TASS materials