Chinanews, August 5 (Sweet) On August 5, local time, the new Iranian President Ibrahim Lehi was formally sworn in in Parliament.

More than 100 dignitaries and representatives from more than 70 countries attended the ceremony.

　　What Leahy took over from his predecessor Rouhani is an Iran with a tense diplomatic situation, economic development, and the continued severity of the new crown epidemic.

This 60-year-old political veteran is also the first Iranian president to come to power on the US sanctions list.

　　As a hardline conservative, how will he break the situation and solve the difficulties? Will the already tense US-Iran relations escalate?

The first big exam in President Leahy's term has begun.

Data map: Iran’s new president Ibrahim Leahy.

[The return of the hardline president]

　　As the most popular presidential candidate among the hardliners, Leahy's victory was considered "no suspense."

　　Wearing a black headscarf and black robe, this is what he left a deep impression on during the election.

　　Throughout his resume, Leahy has a profound religious background. He has studied at the religious academy in the Shiite holy city of Qom from the age of 15. He once ran a wealthy religious foundation and is regarded as a popular successor to Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei. The candidate is supported by the Revolutionary Guard.

　　Another label affixed to Leahy is "Anti-Corruption Fighter".

He has served in the judicial system for a long time. In 2014, he served as the Attorney General of Iran, and in 2019 as the Director of Justice of Iran.

　　He put forward the campaign slogan "Against poverty, corruption, humiliation and discrimination", sought to establish a "strong and popular Iranian government", and promised to work hard to lift US sanctions against Iran and ease the unemployment problem in Iran.

　　On June 19, with nearly 17.93 million votes and nearly 62% of the votes, Leahy easily won the presidency.

　　The analysis said that Leahy's high vote means that the Iranian people have lost confidence in the moderates.

In recent years, Iran has suffered economic decline due to long-term sanctions, and U.S.-Iran relations have been tense.

Leahy is regarded as Iran’s greatest hope for confronting the West and leading the country and people out of the economic crisis.

The picture shows Rouhani (left) and Leahy (right).

[Three major exams to be answered]

　　Public opinion generally believes that getting rid of US sanctions, coping with economic difficulties, and preventing and controlling the new crown epidemic will be the first three major tests that Leahy will face after taking office as president.

　　01. Diplomatic breakthrough

　　Since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement in 2018, regained the sanctions stick, and exerted extreme pressure on Iran, U.S.-Iran relations have become increasingly tight.

　　Today, although the Iranian nuclear agreement has been put on the negotiating table again, and the United States and Iran have successively welcomed new leaders, the prospects for negotiations are still uncertain and the two countries are still full of gunpowder.

　　At the first press conference after announcing that he won the presidential election, Leahy shouted from the air, demanding that the United States return to the Iran nuclear agreement and fully implement the agreement, and lift all sanctions against Iran, but flatly refused to meet with the new US President Biden.

　　White House Spokesperson Psaki responded from across the ocean: "We currently have no diplomatic relations with Iran, nor do we have any plans for a leader-level meeting."

　　The New York Times pointed out that the United States had already imposed sanctions on Leahy for human rights violations, and he became "the first Iranian president to be on the world stage such as the United Nations General Assembly under the shadow of (sanctions)." In power, Iran may face the United States and other Western countries with a tougher posture.

　　However, it is worth noting that Leahy's foreign policy has both "hard" and "soft", showing its pragmatic and flexible side.

　　Before officially taking office as president, Leahy had contacted Qatar and other countries to discuss bilateral relations.

He has repeatedly emphasized that "dialogue with neighboring countries" is a priority for Iran's diplomacy.

　　In addition, Iran has also been exposed to invite its "old enemy" Saudi Arabia to participate in the presidential inauguration, which is seen as one of the signs of possible reconciliation between the two sides.

Affected by factors such as sectarian tensions and US strategic adjustments in the Middle East, relations between the two countries have deteriorated, and diplomatic relations have been severed since 2016.

　　"We will communicate with the world and countries through extensive and balanced communication in foreign policy." Leahy emphasized that his government will implement a "balanced foreign policy" based on national interests.

The picture shows Leahy attending the press conference on June 21, 2021 local time.

　　02. Economic Dilemma

　　Another challenge facing Leahy is how to deal with Iran's severe economic problems in recent years.

　　Under the impact of years of US sanctions and the new crown epidemic, the Iranian economy has been plagued by a series of problems such as high unemployment, inflation and high housing prices. Many people are living in a difficult situation.

　　At the same time, Iran is also experiencing long-term droughts and rising temperatures due to climate change, coupled with poor management of natural resources, causing water shortages and implicating agricultural and animal husbandry production.

Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao commented that the water crisis may become Leahy’s “toughest” challenge.

　　In response to the current livelihood crisis, Leahy reportedly divided the economic plan into three parts: reforming the government, fighting corruption, and supporting families and vulnerable groups.

　　In particular, combating corruption is listed as the top priority.

Because in his view, in addition to being affected by external sanctions, the deterioration of the Iranian economy is also closely related to the corruption of domestic officials.

"The root cause of corruption must be found, and corruption must be completely eradicated."

　　03. Epidemic prevention and control

　　The recent epidemic in Iran has rebounded. The number of newly confirmed cases in a single day has exceeded 30,000 consecutively, with a total of more than 4 million confirmed cases and a total of more than 90,000 deaths.

　　More worryingly, Iran’s health department stated that the more transmissible delta strain has become the dominant new coronavirus in this country and is spreading in all provinces.

　　On the other hand, since the outbreak, the United States has blocked Iran’s imports of new crown vaccines by freezing Iran’s overseas funds and threatening vaccine suppliers.

　　To this end, Leahy said in a TV program a few days ago that the new government will take the promotion of vaccination as a key item from the first day, including "domestic vaccines...if necessary, foreign vaccines will be obtained as soon as possible. Because of this. Let the people rest assured".

　　Next, can Leahy take the lead in the game and dealings with the United States, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the current turmoil in the Middle East; and can he lead the Iranian people out of the predicament and achieve "bright and happily living together" The goal?

His test has just begun.

(Finish)