Pezeshkian: Cabinet list will be announced after 'coordination with the Leader'

Masoud Pezeshkian states that after reviewing the proposals from various political groups to form his government, he will present his cabinet list to the Leader of the Islamic Republic for 'coordination and consultation' before introducing it to the parliament. The newly elected President of Iran, who has not yet held a press conference with journalists, conducted his first media interview with the website of Ali Khamenei, published on Friday, July 27. Various narratives have emerged in recent years indicating that appointing ministers for ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Interior, and Culture and Islamic Guidance is not possible without the Leader's approval. However, Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that after compiling the cabinet list by his advisors, they will consult with Ali Khamenei in the final stage to reach a 'final conclusion' that allows for the introduction of cabinet members. Khamenei, in a meeting with Pezeshkian and representatives, called for a 'unified voice' to be heard in the country. Meanwhile, on July 22, the Leader had asked the parliament to assist Masoud Pezeshkian in 'fulfilling his duties' during a meeting with the President and representatives of the twelfth parliament. Khamenei emphasized that a unified voice should be heard from the country and that differences should not be made apparent. On the other hand, Mohammad Javad Zarif, appointed by the newly elected President as the head of the council overseeing the appointment of ministers for the fourteenth government, announced on Friday that the review of proposals for cabinet members is nearing its final stage. In his interview on Friday, Pezeshkian reiterated his commitment to following the 'general policies' of the Leader of the Islamic Republic, stating that these policies serve as a 'guiding light' and define their goals. Pezeshkian emphasized the need to be accountable to the people who participated in the presidential elections and stated, 'We should not turn the hopes of these people into despair and make them feel that we have lied to them. We will not lie; we will be honest.' He pointed out that the main issue in the country is that individuals are chosen based on personal connections and subjective criteria. He reiterated his criteria and priorities for selecting proposed individuals for the cabinet of the fourteenth government, which include 'adherence to the law, honesty, integrity, truthfulness, good reputation, belief in general policies, belief in the law program, and faith in the Islamic Republic system.' Pezeshkian then stated that reforms should not be seen as a defense of a specific individual, group, or faction, saying, 'Reform means taking a path that establishes fairness and justice throughout the country.' According to the newly elected President, to establish reforms, cooperation is necessary, fairness and rights must be upheld, and opportunities must be given to elites, producers, and skilled individuals. In part of this interview, Masoud Pezeshkian referred to the energy imbalance in the country, stating that currently, $8 billion is spent on purchasing gasoline. He explained, 'This means we buy gasoline for about 30 or 40 thousand tomans and sell it for 1500 tomans! How long can we continue this?' These remarks come after Pezeshkian had previously dismissed the idea of raising gasoline prices during his election campaign. He also mentioned the high electricity consumption in Iran, stating that the country consumes as much energy and electricity as all of Europe, which he deemed scientifically incorrect. In the early presidential elections held on July 6, following the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, Masoud Pezeshkian was introduced as the new President of Iran with over 16 million votes. However, the first round of this election recorded the lowest level of public participation compared to previous presidential elections. The inauguration ceremony for Masoud Pezeshkian's presidency by Ali Khamenei is scheduled for August 1, and his swearing-in ceremony in parliament will take place on August 3.