Khamenei Urges a 'Unified Voice' in the Country During Meeting with Behdasht and Representatives

Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in his meeting with the President and representatives of the twelfth Majlis (Parliament), called for the 'help' of the Majlis to assist Masoud Behdasht in 'fulfilling his duties.' In this speech, which Masoud Behdasht also attended, Khamenei emphasized that a unified voice must be heard from the country and that disagreements should not be made public. Despite being elected President, Behdasht remains a member of the twelfth Majlis and is expected to have his resignation from the parliamentary representation voted on before the inauguration ceremony. On Sunday, July 31, prior to the representatives' meeting with the Supreme Leader, he was present at a public session of the Majlis and stated that the country's problems cannot be solved through disagreement and conflict. He also mentioned that 'the issue of Gaza remains the primary issue of the Islamic world, and the Majlis should not remain silent on this matter.' In his initial statements and meetings after being elected as President of Iran, Behdasht focused on the Gaza issue and continued support for the militias backed by the Republic in the region. On the same day, Khamenei, in his meeting with the representatives of the Majlis and Behdasht, not only called for coordination and a unified voice between the Majlis and the government but also defended the 'strategic law for lifting sanctions.' Khamenei emphasized the importance of the Majlis's presence in political and international issues and considered the 'strategic action law' as an example of this presence. This law, passed in December 2020, obliges the government to increase uranium enrichment capacity. Behdasht announced in the second electoral debate that he would implement this law. On the other hand, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about Behdasht's government, noting the Islamic Republic's proximity to obtaining fissile materials and believing that decision-making remains in Khamenei's hands. The presidential inauguration ceremony for Behdasht is scheduled for next week, marking the official start of his term. Behdasht, the elected President of Iran, attended a public session of the Majlis on Sunday and provided details on how ministers would be selected. He stated that 'we have requested resumes from individuals in various political groups, reformists, conservatives, and independents who believe they can help.' He added, 'These resumes will be reviewed separately by reformists, conservatives, and independents, and ultimately individuals will be selected for decisions.' Behdasht stated, 'We will select those who scored higher and can act in coordination, but it is a difficult task.' No candidates have been confirmed yet, and reports indicate that the list of proposed individuals will be submitted to the new President by August 3, and he will present the final list for a vote of confidence to the Majlis by August 15. Mohammad Javad Zarif, head of the 'transitional government steering council' for Behdasht, stated on July 27 in a television interview that the fourteenth cabinet 'will not be a coalition.' In response to opposition slogans against him during Friday prayers in Tehran, the former foreign minister in Hassan Rouhani's government said, 'Those who do not align with the President's discourse will not be present in the cabinet. The people voted for one person, and that person will gather those who are willing to align with that discourse.' In the two weeks following Behdasht's introduction as the new President of Iran, his opponents have claimed that others are making decisions for him, labeling him a 'puppet president' due to his presence in religious committees and delegating cabinet formation to the steering council led by Zarif. One of the latest waves of criticism against Zarif stemmed from his comments regarding the advantages for women and ethnic and religious minorities in selecting members and officials of the new government. Zarif stated in a television program that 'if the proposed minister is male, he receives no advantages; female candidates receive 10 points; if they are from the majority (Shia), they receive no points, but if they are from official religions and sects, they receive points, as we strive to utilize groups and individuals who have been less represented, including youth and women.' These remarks faced strong backlash from opponents of the elected President, primarily from the conservative faction and supporters of Saeed Jalili, the defeated candidate in the elections. Zarif himself responded to these criticisms by stating that his comments reflect 'the fourteenth government's effort for broader participation of women and ethnic and religious groups in the government.' Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Majlis, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, described the low participation of a segment of society in the Islamic Republic's elections as 'a serious issue.' On Sunday, July 31, he stated, 'The reluctance of a significant portion of the people to exercise their right to choose is a reality that should awaken politicians.' He added, 'Of course, this issue has various roots, and those who are analytical and investigative should address it, but the consequences for the governance system and the public fate of society are so severe that we cannot easily overlook it.' According to Iranian media, the Speaker added, 'We must examine the dimensions of this issue and make decisions to resolve it.' The Iranian presidential elections were held on July 8 following the helicopter crash carrying Ebrahim Raisi in late May, where four final candidates who passed the stringent vetting of the Guardian Council competed against each other, but according to the Iranian Ministry of Interior, only 39.9% of eligible voters participated. In the second round of elections held on July 15, where Masoud Behdasht, the candidate supported by the so-called reformist faction, competed against Saeed Jalili, the candidate backed by the hardline conservatives, the Ministry of Interior reported a 49.8% participation rate. The first round of elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in presidential elections since the establishment of this regime. The percentage of participation in the second round did not improve this situation. The significant drop in voter participation in this year's elections occurred while Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had deemed people's presence at the ballot boxes necessary for the regime's dignity and 'to silence the enemy.' A wide range of domestic activists and political prisoners, as well as well-known opposition figures abroad, had called for a boycott of the elections. However, Khamenei and other officials of the Islamic Republic did not address the boycott or the main issues that led to reduced voter turnout. The presidential inauguration ceremony and the swearing-in of Masoud Behdasht in the Majlis are scheduled for nine days later, after which the new President must introduce his proposed ministers to the Majlis and seek their vote of confidence.