Tehran, July 7 (RHC)-- Messages of congratulations have poured in on behalf of the world’s leaders and top government officials after Masoud Pezeshkian, a seasoned Iranian parliamentarian, was formally declared the winner of the country’s presidential runoff.

The 69-year-old heart surgeon garnered more than 16 million votes while his rival, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, got over 13 million out of about 30 million votes cast, with the voter turnout standing at 49.8 percent.

Pezeshkian entered politics first as the country’s deputy health minister and later as the health minister.  In 2006, Pezeshkian was elected as a lawmaker representing Tabriz in northwest Iran.  He later served as a deputy parliament speaker described by many as an “independent” politician, a label that was embraced by Pezeshkian in the campaign.

Syria’s Assad hopes for boost in strategic relationship

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a note of congratulations to Pezeshkian on Saturday and welcomed his victory in Iran’s presidential election.

“I congratulate you on the confidence of the dear Iranian people, and I congratulate the leadership and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the success of the electoral process, wishing you prosperity in everything that preserves Iran’s security and stability,” Assad said.

“Your country, which is impregnable as it has always been, is one of the most important countries with which we are keen to ensure that the relationship is at its peak because this relationship is based on roots established through decades of mutual respect, common understanding, and firm principles, to which Syria and Iran have always adhered,” the Syrian president added.

Assad underlined the expansion of the strategic relationship between the two countries as a means of safeguarding their national interests.

“We will work with you to boost the Syrian-Iranian strategic relationship and open new promising horizons for bilateral cooperation, and resistance will remain the common approach that we follow in order to preserve the pride of our countries and defend the interests of their peoples,” he said.

Pakistan hopes for ties to ‘grow further stronger’

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his felicitations to Pezeshkian on his election and hoped that “fraternal” relations between Pakistan and Iran will “grow further stronger” during his presidency.

“My heartfelt congratulations to @drpezeshkian on his election as the President of Iran. Pakistan & Iran enjoy fraternal ties & I hope that under your leadership our relations will grow further stronger. Looking forward to work together for the peace and prosperity of the region,” Zardari said.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, congratulated Pezeshkian and expressed confidence in the further consolidation of Tehran-Islamabad ties during his tenure.

“Mr. Pezeshkian is an intelligent, capable and people-friendly politician whose election bespeaks the strong trust of the Iranian people,” Sadiq said, adding, “We are confident that the relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in the new period.”

Venezuela’s Maduro voices "absolute support" for Pezeshkian

The Venezuelan government congratulated the people of Iran for their commitment to democracy in Friday’s runoff election that resulted in Pezeshkian’s victory.

“The Bolivarian Republic congratulates the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the commitment demonstrated to the democracy of their country, expressed in the second round of the presidential elections held on July 5, 2024, which gave victory to His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian as the new president of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil said in a statement on his X account.

“Venezuela expresses its conviction that the decision made by the Iranian people will contribute to the prosperity of this nation, as well as its consolidation as an emerging power of the nascent multipolar world.”

Gil expressed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s “absolute support” for Pezeshkian “to continue deepening the fraternal relations between both peoples and in the comprehensive strategic alliance for mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Iraq stresses keenness to strengthen bilateral relations

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid congratulated the new Iranian president-elect on his victory in Friday’s runoff election.

“We extend our congratulations to the Islamic Republic of Iran on the successful completion of its presidential elections. We also congratulate Masoud Pazeshkian on his election as President, wishing him success in his official duties and in fulfilling the ambitions and aspirations of the Iranian people,” Rashid wrote on X.

“We affirm our keenness to strengthen relations between Iraq and Iran in a way that serves the interests of the two neighboring countries and peoples.”

Putin stresses "constructive bilateral cooperation"

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Iran’s veteran parliamentarian on his victory and hoped for the “reinforcement of constructive bilateral cooperation” between Moscow and Tehran.

“I hope that your tenure as president will contribute to a reinforcement of constructive bilateral cooperation between our friendly peoples,” Putin said in a message to Pezeshkian.

Aliyev invites Pezeshkian to pay visit to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to the newly elected president of Iran on his victory.

“I heartily congratulate you on your election as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We attach great importance to the relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran built on solid foundations such as common religious and cultural roots, friendship and brotherhood,” Aliyev said.

“It is gratifying that over the past decades, our mutually beneficial cooperation has developed dynamically and reached its current level, gaining a new content in all domains, especially in the economy, transport, energy and humanitarian spheres.”

The Azeri president said the agreements already reached on the future development of Azerbaijan-Iran relations are based on mutual respect and good neighborliness, which will serve the well-being of the two countries and contribute to the security of the region.

“I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will ensure further strengthening of the traditional friendly relations and the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in line with the interests of our peoples and countries,” Aliyev said.

“I invite you to pay a visit to Azerbaijan to exchange views on the prospects for development of our bilateral cooperation. I convey my best wishes to you, and wish success in your future responsible activities for the prosperity of the friendly and brotherly people of Iran,” he added.

Saudi Arabia favors development of Tehran-Riyadh ties

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also congratulated Pezeshkian.

“On the occasion of your victory in the presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we are pleased to send you our sincere congratulations and best wishes for success, looking forward to continuing to develop relations between our two brotherly countries and peoples, and continuing coordination and consultation in order to enhance regional and international peace and security,” the king was quoted as saying by Saudi state news agency, SPA.

“We wish you good health and happiness, and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, further progress and prosperity.”

Bin Salman, for his part, expressed his “sincere congratulations and best wishes for success and further progress and progress for your country and brotherly people,” highlighting his “keenness to develop and deepen relations that unite our two countries and peoples, and serve our common interests.”

China and India congratulate Pezeshkian

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Pezeshkian for his win in Iran’s presidential runoff election.

“I am willing to work with the President to lead the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership towards deeper advancement,” state news agency Xinhua reported Xi as saying.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his felicitations on the Iranian cardiac surgeon’s election victory.

“Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region,” Modi wrote on social media platform X.

Oman, Kuwait congratulate president-elect

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah sent separate messages of congratulations to Pezeshkian on the occasion of his election as Iran’s president.

Sheikh Meshal wished Pezeshkian “a long healthy life and more prosperity and development for the Islamic Republic.”