Iran Eyeing Broader Ties with Kazakhstan in New Era

Qassemi said in a message on Wednesday that Iran supports power transition in Kazakhstan since it is based on the country’s constitution, adding, “We are sure that the friendship between Iran and Kazakhstan will continue like before.”

“Mr. Nazarbayev is a prominent and influential politician in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and during his presidency, relations between Iran and Kazakhstan have always been friendly and growing,” Qassemi said, adding that current transition of power in the country has taken place within the framework of the constitution and hence Iran supports it.

He congratulated Tokayev as the interim president of the central Asian country, wishing him success during his tenure.

Qassemi also felicitated Nowruz to Kazakh people and government, highlighting that concurrency of Nazarbayev’s resignation announcement with Nowruz, which is the start of nature’s transformation, is a good sign. He further wished Kazakh people and government prosperity and felicity.

Kazakhstan's acting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Wednesday that he will continue the policies of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country's former head of state who announced his resignation on Tuesday.

Tokayev was formally sworn in earlier in the day. He will perform the duties of the president until the 2020 election, Sputnik reported.

"I am planning to direct my knowledge and experience to the preservation of the strategic policies [of the former leader]", he stated after the swearing-in ceremony.

Tokayev also noted that the country's capital Astana should be renamed after ex-President Nazarbayev.

"I believe it is necessary to memorialise the name of our great contemporary, the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Our capital should be renamed after him and be called Nursultan", the head of state added.

Tokayev also stressed that Nazarbayev should be granted the status of honorary senator.

"As the former chairman of the Kazakh Parliament's Senate [upper chamber], I consider it necessary to grant Elbasy [leader of the nation, Nazarbayev] the status of honorary senator", Tokayev said.

Tokayev conferred upon Nazarbayev the titles of Hero of Kazakhstan and the Hero of Labour of Kazakhstan.

In the meantime, Dariga Nazarbayeva, daughter of the ex-president, has been nominated for speaker of Kazakhstan's upper house of Parliament.

Nazarbayev, 78, held a number of senior posts in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, which was a part of the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Nazarbayev remained in power, becoming president of the independent Republic of Kazakhstan. Despite his resignation as president after almost 29 years in office, Nazarbayev remains head of the country's Security Council and leader of the ruling party Nur Otan.

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