Tehran, Aug 3, IRNA-The four-year presidential term of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started here Wednesday after his decree was confirmed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Khatami and Ahmadinejad walk hand in hand

Senior Iranian authorities, ranking army officials and a number of Tehran-based foreign diplomatic corps attended the ceremony.

The confirmation by the Supreme Leader of his decree took place in line with the implementation of Article 110 of the Constitution.

Ahmadinejad at the confirmation ceremony

According to the Article, "Signing the decree formalizing the election of the President of the Republic by the people; the suitability of candidates for the presidency of the Republic, with respect to the qualifications specified in the constitution, must be confirmed before elections take place by the Guardian Council; and, in the case of the first term (of the presidency), by the leadership."

Ahmadinejad at the confirmation ceremony

Ahmadinejad took office as the sixth president of the Islamic Republic after Abolhassan Banisadr, Mohammad-Ali Rajaei, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami.

Ayatollah Khamenei, Hashemi Rafsanjani and Khatami were elected for two consecutive terms as presidents of the Islamic Republic.

According to the Article 114 of the Constitution, "The president is elected for a four-year term by direct vote of the people. His re-election for a successive term is permissible only once." Mahmoud Ahmadinejad managed to win over 17 million votes as Iran's sixth president during the 9th presidential runoff elections held June 24.