Kabir heads to Tehran for inauguration of Iran’s new president

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the deputy prime minister for political affairs, left Kabul Monday morning for Tehran where he will attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian.

Heading a high-level delegation, Kabir will also hold discussions with Iranian officials during his three-day visit. 

Discussions will focus on strengthening political and economic relations between the two countries and on solutions to problems relating to Afghan refugees living in the country. 

Kabir is also expected to meet with officials from a number of countries who are expected to attend Pezeshkian’s oath taking ceremony scheduled for Tuesday. 

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday formally endorsed Pezeshkian as president.

During an endorsement ceremony, Khamenei urged Pezeshkian to prioritize neighbors, African and Asian nations as well as countries that have “supported and helped” Iran in Tehran’s foreign relations policies.

Khamenei criticized European nations for “behaving badly to us” by adopting sanctions, an oil embargo and for calling out alleged human rights abuses, AP reported.

He also condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza in the deaths of children, women and hospitalized people “who did not shoot a single bullet” against Israeli forces.

“The Zionist regime is showing its ugliest face as a war criminal,” said Khamenei, accusing Israel of setting a “new record in assassinations” and cruelty. 

He also denounced the US Congress for allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the legislative body, AP reported.