Review of Proposed Ministers' Plans Begins in Parliament; Pezeshkian Says Government Will Adhere to Khamenei's Policies

The review of the plans of 19 ministers introduced by Massoud Pezeshkian began on Saturday, August 27, in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Prior to this, Massoud Pezeshkian announced that his government would be committed to the Constitution and the goals of the vision document and general policies approved by Ali Khamenei. He had previously stated during the presidential election campaign on June 30: 'Anything that does not align with the general policies of the leadership is a red line.' Massoud Pezeshkian also referred to his proposed government as a 'national unity government.' This comes as a wave of criticism against him and these ministers has emerged in the media following the introduction of the proposed ministers, with many of Pezeshkian's supporters during the presidential election also voicing criticism. Nevertheless, he has defended his proposed list, stating that nearly 10,000 hours were spent working on the proposed ministers. He has repeatedly called for the parliament's vote of confidence for his list of ministers, saying, 'Consultations have been conducted at a high level, and we did not come here without consultation.' Typically, proposed ministers for important ministries require the approval of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. In part of his speech, Pezeshkian stated: 'We must reflect the voices of the voiceless, the homeless, and the marginalized, and listen to the forgotten, the rejected, the marginalized, and those who have no platform for their demands.' These remarks come at a time when, despite some references to the critical economic situation in Iran, he has not commented on the strikes and protests by nurses and project workers in the oil and gas sectors. Pezeshkian has also not taken a stance on the issuance of death sentences for labor and civil activists, nor on the detainees of recent protests and the execution of some of them. In another part of his speech in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, he said: 'The people are complaining about us today. We are to blame. It is not America or other foreigners who are to blame.' Pezeshkian also remarked: 'If the people's voices are not heard in time, we will witness despair.' Massoud Pezeshkian was determined through a vote following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in an air accident last May. The review of the proposed ministers' plans in parliament will continue until August 31. According to ISNA news agency, after the review of the government's program on Saturday, the representatives will begin examining the qualifications of the proposed ministers in alphabetical order, starting with Alireza Kazemi, the proposed Minister of Education. In this context, Mohammad Qasim Osmani, a representative from Boukan, criticized the absence of Sunni representation in Massoud Pezeshkian's government, stating that Pezeshkian did not even explain why he did not give opportunities to Sunni elites, saying, 'They did not vote in Kurdistan.' This representative further addressed Pezeshkian, saying: 'You did not allocate not only a ministerial seat but even a deputy chair to the Sunnis.' He added: 'Our reputation for supporting you is being trampled in the virtual space, and you and your companions are not even bothered.' In recent days, independent teacher activists along with several journalists have repeatedly criticized Alireza Kazemi for his performance in recent years and his views. The indifference and noise of the representatives during Massoud Pezeshkian's speech were notable.