By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

His election as the 8th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979 is being talked about as a fresh breeze that has indeed brought smiles to the faces of the Iranian people.
As congratulatory cables continue to pour into Tehran from all over the world for Ayatollah Ibrahim Raisi on his landslide victory in last Friday’s presidential polls, the man who has reformed the judicial system to the benefit of the people since taking over its jurisdiction two years ago, is widely expected to revolutionize the presidency and with it, increase the rapport between the public and the Chief Executive.
Not that the earlier presidents did not enjoy close contacts with the masses, but judging from his excellent executive record which caught national/international attention during his 3-year custodianship of the prestigious Astan-e Qods Razavi Organization – often to as a ‘state’ in its own self – he holds promise of judicious handling of the presidency in both domestic issues and foreign relations.
In March 2016 Raisi was entrusted chairmanship of the huge shrine complex in Mashhad of the resting place of Imam Reza (AS) – the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) – and the agro-industrial-urban-cultural projects it governs in various parts of the country as part of the religious endowments that date back several centuries.
He ushered in positive changes for providing better services to the millions of pilgrims visiting Mashhad from all over Iran and the world, especially the poor and the dispossessed.
Now the nation expects him to bring the same economic acumen and political prudence to the presidency in order to make Iran immune against the dastardly terrorism of the US and its repercussion on the Islamic Republic’s domestic affairs.
The president of Iran, as the second-highest ranking official of the country, in accordance with the national constitution, wields significant influence over both internal and international affairs that are vital to the progress of the Islamic Republic as well as the goals and objectives of the Islamic Revolution.
In other words, if Raisi’s responsibilities include national development in all sectors to make Iran the paramount power in the region on the basis of social justice at home, outside Iran’s borders it warrants assistance to the people and governments in the neighbourhood for preserving peace, stability, and the Islamic culture, in the face of the murderous destabilizing activities of terrorists of various hue and colour, especially the Zionists and the American-British imperialists.
This was clear by the congratulatory messages Iran’s president-designate has been receiving from heads of governments and popular movements, in particular from the Leader of Lebanon’s legendry anti-terrorist movement, Seyyed Hassan Nasrollah, who, actually speaking on behalf of the awakened masses of the region, said:
“I congratulate you on this great victory and your election as president at this critical juncture in Iran’s history. Your election win revived the hopes of the Iranian nation and other regional nations for the future and their power to counter challenges. Resistance fighters and freedom-seeking people consider you a fortified stronghold against aggressors.”
This and related factors are without the least doubt among the secrets of the enduring and durable system of popular religious rule in Iran with its profound influence on the people of the region and beyond, much to the bewilderment of the enemies of humanity led by the Great Satan (US) who have miserably failed in their plots against Iran and the Iranian people over the past four decades.
We wish the 8th President of the Islamic Republic success in discharging his duties with efficiency in the next eight years, or the usual two terms, as the Chief Executive of Iran.