Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday the appointment of Naim Qassem to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah chief would "strengthen" the resistance.
Pezeshkian expressed confidence that Qassem's appointment "will strengthen the will of the resistance,” while hoping for "the cessation of aggression by the illegal Zionist regime (Israel) and the establishment of peace, tranquility and security in Gaza, Lebanon, and the entire region," according to his website.
Hezbollah said in a statement that its decision-making Shura Council elected Qassem, 71, as its new secretary-general and vowed to continue Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved.”
Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, and senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine - considered the most likely successor - was killed in Israeli strikes a week later.
Since Nasrallah's killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on Oct. 8 in which he said the Iran-backed group supported efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon.
