TEHRAN – Iran’s president-elect Massoud Pezeshkian on Monday responded to a congratulatory message from Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, pledging continued support to the “resistance force”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported the resistance of the people in the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime. Supporting the resistance is rooted in the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ideals of the late Imam Khomeini, and the guidance of the Supreme Leader, and will continue with strength,” Pezeshkian wrote.
“I am confident that the resistance movements in the region will not allow this regime to continue its warmongering and criminal policies against the oppressed people of Palestine and other nations in the region.”
Hezbollah and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas are part of a group of factions in the region known as the Axis of Resistance.
Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh on Monday congratulated Pezeshkian “on behalf of the Hamas movement and the Palestinian people on the successful holding of the elections in Iran and the nation’s trust in your Excellency and your election as president”. 
“We are sending this congratulatory message while the Palestinian nation and its resistance are fighting one of its most proud historical battles,” he said.
“The Palestinian nation appreciates your capabilities in serving Iran and overcoming all challenges and difficulties and taking steps towards the unity of the Islamic Ummah against its enemy and also helping the Palestinian issue as the main issue. The Islamic world is confident,” he added. 
Pezeshkian also received separate phone calls from the presidents of Turkey and Russia.
In his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pezeshkian highlighted the significance of ties with Russia and pledged to further expand mutual relations.
He said the new administration will pursue and implement the agreements signed with Russia under the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
He said it is important for Tehran and Moscow to strengthen cooperation in regional and international organizations and treaties, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS group of emerging economies and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Pezeshkian noted that documents related to Iran-Russia comprehensive cooperation agreement have been finalized and are ready to be signed soon.
The Russian president, for his part, congratulated Pezeshkian on being elected Iranian president and wished him every success in his work, the Kremlin press service said after the phone call.
Both sides agreed to establish “personal contact” this year.
They hailed high-level mutual relations based on good neighborliness and reiterated their readiness to strengthen cooperation in different sectors.
Pezeshkian emerged victorious in the second round of the presidential vote on July 5. He garnered more than 16 million votes against ex-nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who secured upwards of 13 million out of over 30 million votes cast, with the voter turnout standing at almost 50 percent.
In a separate phone conversation, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey and Iran have maintained deep-rooted relations.
He said the two countries will further promote ties in various fields during Pezeshkian’s tenure.
The Turkish leader congratulated Pezeshkian over his election as the new president of Iran and wished him success.
Erdogan and Pezeshkian discussed mutual relations and regional and international developments.