Supreme Leader of Iran Formally Endorses Rouhani After Re-Election as President

Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei formally approved the re-election of country's President Hassan Rouhani for his second term at a ceremony held in Tehran.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ceremony, broadcast by the IRIB broadcaster, was opened by Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, who presented a report on the presidential election held in May. After reading out the decree, Khamenei personally handed it to Rouhani.

"I comply with the choice of the Iranian people, approve the results of the vote and appoint Hassan Rouhani the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Khamenei's decree said, as read out by his Chief of Staff Mohammadi Golpayegani.

Rouhani received 57 percent of the vote at the May 19 election. His main rival, cleric Ebrahim Raisi, received 38 percent of the vote.

The inauguration of an Iranian president consists of two parts: the first involves Khamenei's formal endorsement, and the second is the oath-taking ceremony at the country's parliament.

Within two weeks following the official appointment, the president has to submit a proposed list of ministers to parliament for approval. The parliament will then have 10 days to approve or reject the proposals.