Iran’s new president takes office, promises to end U.S. sanctions In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, gives his official seal of approval to newly elected President Ebrahim Raisi in an endorsement ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) OAN Newsroom UPDATED 3:17 PM PT – Tuesday, August 3, 2021 Iran’s newly elected President Ebrahim Raisi vowed to take steps to lift U.S. sanctions on the regime. Assuming the presidency on Tuesday, ultra-conservative Raisi promised to enact what he said was the will of the Iranian people.