Iran’s new president Pezeshkian sworn in as regional tensions reach a boiling point

Iran’s newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian was sworn in on Tuesday in a ceremony at the Iranian Parliament attended by foreign dignitaries and officials of several Iranian proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthi rebels. 

Pezeshkian ran on a relatively moderate platform, pledging to repair relations with European countries and return Iran to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.

However, the elimination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran shortly after the inaugural ceremony could put significant pressure on Pezeshkian to adopt a more hard-line stance. 

Haniyeh was at the swearing-in ceremony, and Pezeshkian and Haniyeh were seen talking and embracing as they celebrated the president’s appointment. 

The ceremony was also attended by a group of senior officials from several countries, including Turkey, Armenia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Cuba, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and even European Union envoy Enrique Mora. 

Haniyeh and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Sec.-Gen. Ziyad al-Nakhalah met with Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier on Tuesday before the inauguration ceremony.  

Prior to that meeting, Pezeshkian had promised to continue support for the Palestinian cause in a statement on Monday. 

“Supporting the cause of the oppressed Palestinian nation will continue with strength, and no factor can disrupt our will in this direction,” the president-elect said at the time. 

He also warned Israel against striking Lebanon in retaliation for the Hezbollah rocket attack which killed 12 children and youth in the Israeli Druze town of Majdal Shams, saying a counter-attack would have “heavy consequences.” 

At the swearing-in ceremony, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made a speech condemning Zionist “crimes” in Gaza. In a video of the speech, chants of “Death to Israel, Death to America” can be heard. 

During Masoud Pezeshkian's inauguration as president today in #Iran, the parliament broke out in chant of "Death to #Israel" and "Death to America." 1/ pic.twitter.com/1uVyRY18nU

— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) July 30, 2024

The announcement of the two dramatic killings within hours of each other appears set to dramatically shift the situation in the Middle East, and affect Iran’s strategy of using proxies to attack Israeli and U.S. interests in the region. 

On Tuesday evening, shortly after the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, U.S. forces carried out a “self-defense” strike against the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) group, south of Baghdad, Iraq. 

U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that the strike targeted militants believed to be preparing to launch drones at U.S. or coalition forces.

"This action underscores the United States' commitment to the safety and security of our personnel," one of the officials told Reuters. 

Last week, an attack on Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, where U.S.-led forces are staying, was reportedly carried out by PMF. 

Since the Oct. 7 Gaza War, U.S. forces in Iraq have faced increased attacks from Iran-affiliated militias. 

The U.S. response on Tuesday marks the first time the U.S. military has taken action against such attacks since February, when it struck several targets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-aligned militias.

Following Haniyeh’s elimination in Tehran, such attacks on U.S. forces in the region are expected to increase.