Khamenei Acknowledges Coordination with Behdarvand for Cabinet Introduction: Some Approved and Some Emphasized

Ali Khamenei, in his first meeting with the members of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, confirmed previous statements by Masoud Behdarvand regarding his involvement in the introduction of ministers, acknowledging that he approved some of them and emphasized the presence of others. Khamenei stated on Tuesday, September 6, that Behdarvand 'consulted with me for the selection of ministers,' and that 'I approved some whose qualifications were confirmed through trusted sources, and I emphasized some others.' He also claimed that 'I did not know many others and said I had no opinion about them.' On the day of the review of the proposed ministers' qualifications in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Behdarvand revealed that he had obtained Khamenei's approval as well as that of intelligence agencies and the IRGC before introducing them. Khamenei, in his remarks today, without referring to Behdarvand's complete coordination with him for obtaining the 'vote of confidence' for some ministers from the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated that Behdarvand 'was able to make the selection [of cabinet members] and convince the Assembly' and considered it a 'great success.' The Islamic Consultative Assembly gave a 'vote of confidence' to Behdarvand's proposed ministers on Wednesday, August 31, after he assured representatives that he had obtained the approval of 'high levels of the system' for all his proposed ministers. Before the Assembly's voting, Behdarvand, as the last speaker, once again defended his proposed ministers and emphasized that the Supreme Leader had approved them, stating that the programs of the fourteenth government are to implement and pursue the 'general policies of the system' that have been 'communicated' by Ali Khamenei. He also mentioned that he had coordinated with the Ministry of Intelligence, the IRGC, and intelligence agencies to finalize the list of proposed ministers. The President of the fourteenth government claimed that the backgrounds of individuals such as Ahmad Danyamali, proposed for the Ministry of Sports, Gholamreza Noori Ghazaljeh, proposed for the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, and Abbas Ali Abadi, considered for the Ministry of Energy, are 'clear.' Behdarvand also mentioned about Abbas Salehi, the proposed candidate for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, saying: 'The Minister of Culture was not coming at all,' and Khamenei 'ordered him to come.' He also stated regarding Farzaneh Sadegh, proposed for the Ministry of Roads, that 'Ms. Sadegh Malavijard was actually suggested by Khamenei himself' and added: 'Why do you force me to say things that should not be said?' Behdarvand emphasized that all the proposed ministers were coordinated with the Supreme Leader, stating that all these individuals 'came here with coordination and understanding; many people who had even a slight doubt were not included in the lists without us saying so.' The confirmation of all proposed ministers by the President of the fourteenth government in the Islamic Consultative Assembly and Behdarvand's emphasis on his complete coordination with Ali Khamenei and intelligence agencies sparked reactions on social media, with users describing this process as a demonstration of the 'election' of the government and 'a blow to the law,' likening it to the practices of 'Hitler.'