TEHRAN, Aug 4 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived here today to represent Malaysia at the inauguration of the new Iranian president.

He is scheduled to join a number of presidents, prime ministers, deputy prime ministers and speakers of parliament at the inauguration of centrist and moderate cleric, Hassan Rouhani (picture), as Iran’s seventh president at the Parliament building later in the day.

The special aircraft carrying Muhyiddin touched down at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport just before 5am local time (8.30am Malaysian time) after a nearly eight-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman and other officials, the deputy prime minister was met on arrival by Malaysian ambassador to Iran, Mohamad Sadik Kethergany and Iranian officials.

Muhyiddin will also attend a breaking-of-fast dinner at the Saadabad Palace tonight.

On the back of campaigning that touted ‘moderation and wisdom’, the 64-year-old Rouhani won the June 14 presidential election after garnering 50.7 per cent or 18.6 million of the 36.7 million votes cast. 

Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf came a distant second with 16.55 per cent of the votes while other contenders did not do that well either. 

Rouhani succeeded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad whose eight-year presidency was marked by confrontational policies.

Observers have expressed hope that under the new presidency, a diplomatic solution would be found to the Iranian nuclear stand-off with the West as well improvements to the country’s economy and other social issues. — Bernama