New Cabinet
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has unveiled his new cabinet, featuring a notable focus on moderate and female appointees.
During a live broadcast session on state television, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf introduced the 19-member cabinet nominated by Pezeshkian.
This cabinet presentation marks a significant shift following the death of former hardline President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
Among the key appointments, Pezeshkian has chosen Abbas Araghchi, a seasoned diplomat, as the new foreign minister.
Araghchi, who is 61 years old, is known for his extensive experience in international negotiations, including his role as chief negotiator in the nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers from 2013 to 2021.
His background includes serving as Iran’s ambassador to Japan and Finland, as well as a deputy to former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was pivotal in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Farzaneh Sadegh, nominated for the position of roads and urban development minister, is poised to make history as only the second woman to hold a ministerial role in Iran since the 1979 revolution.
If confirmed, the 48-year-old Sadegh will join Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, who became health minister in 2009, in holding a high-ranking governmental position.
Despite her groundbreaking nomination, Sadegh’s appointment has faced resistance from some lawmakers during the parliamentary session.
The cabinet announcement comes at a critical juncture as Iran faces heightened tensions with Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating the killing and has vowed severe retaliation, drawing international concern about potential escalation into a broader regional conflict. Western leaders have urged restraint to prevent further destabilization.
Pezeshkian, who assumed office with promises to improve international relations and ease domestic social restrictions, is believed to be cautious about a major military confrontation with Israel potentially undermining his agenda.
In addition to Araghchi and Sadegh, Pezeshkian has nominated General Aziz Nasirzadeh, a former Iranian Air Force commander, as defense minister, and General Eskandar Momeni, a former IRGC member and police commander, as interior minister. Mohsen Paknezhad, an experienced executive in Iran’s energy sector, has been selected as oil minister.
Pezeshkian’s approach includes a commitment to coordinating with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final authority on state matters, to finalize the cabinet list.
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