Contradictions and Claims by Pezeshkian in His First Press Conference: Does the Morality Police Still Operate? We Don't Have Hypersonic Missiles

In his first press conference, Masoud Pezeshkian made contradictory statements regarding the hypersonic missile fired by Houthis from Yemen towards Israel, claiming that the Islamic Republic does not possess such missiles. He also called for Iran's accession to the FATF and expressed ignorance about the continued operation of the morality police. The President of the 14th government of the Islamic Republic, who spoke with domestic and some foreign journalists on Tuesday, September 17, emphasized extensive relations with China and Russia, stating that he intends to advance foreign diplomacy 'based on dignity, wisdom, and expediency.' He also made contradictory statements against the current policies of the Islamic Republic, claiming that 'we have no quarrel with America or any country.' This is while Masoud Pezeshkian has repeatedly introduced himself as an executor of Ali Khamenei's orders, who has always emphasized enmity with America. In response to Al Jazeera regarding Iran's role in the hypersonic missile fired by Houthis to Israel, he claimed that 'if manpower wants to go to Yemen, it takes a week, how did these missiles get there?' He also asserted that 'they have missile technology in Yemen themselves' and 'we do not have these hypersonic missiles at all.' Pezeshkian's claim that the Islamic Republic does not possess the missile fired by the Houthis comes despite the fact that on June 6 of the previous year, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unveiled the hypersonic missile Fattah. In response, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated on September 22 of the same year that they continue to work closely with European allies and partners to use all available tools to prevent such activities. Pezeshkian also emphasized that 'we have no choice but to resolve the FATF issue to lift sanctions.' This statement comes as Iran remains on the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pezeshkian's remarks contradict the actions of other officials of the Islamic Republic regarding the acceptance of the FATF. The resistance of Islamic Republic officials to remove the obstacles to take Iran off the FATF blacklist is among the problems that have troubled Iran's economy. Alongside this issue, international sanctions imposed due to the lack of transparency in Iran's nuclear program in recent decades have limited the Islamic Republic's access to foreign currency resources. Previously, Masoud Pezeshkian had emphasized the necessity of joining the FATF, calling the circumvention of sanctions a wrong path and stressing that 'there is so much corruption in it that no one can stop it'; however, he simultaneously emphasized adherence to the previous policies of the Islamic Republic, referring to the leader's opinions as 'guiding light.' One of the harms resulting from the Supreme Leader's decisions not to join the FATF to combat money laundering and terrorism financing was the increase in mortality due to delays in purchasing COVID-19 vaccines by Iran. Pezeshkian also emphasized that 'the most extensive relations' of the Islamic Republic are 'with China and Russia,' stating that 'our relationship with China will be strategic,' and regarding the 25-year agreement between Iran and China, he said: 'I am determined to implement this agreement.' The Iran-China cooperation document is a multilateral agreement signed during Hassan Rouhani's second term, which faced widespread protests. The details of this document remain shrouded in ambiguity even after several years. While many reports have emerged about the harassment of citizens by the morality police and violent encounters with women and girls over mandatory hijab since Pezeshkian took office, the President of the Islamic Republic responded to a domestic journalist who referred to fear of the morality police by saying: 'Does the morality police still operate? They were not supposed to act.'