The Iranian Parliament has approved all 19 ministers nominated by President Masoud Pezeshkian, marking a historic event as it is the first time in over two decades that a leader has successfully secured the endorsement of all their officials. The approval occurred on Wednesday following several days of deliberation and highlights the president’s focus on achieving consensus among various political factions.
In contrast to the hardline approach of former President Ebrahim Raisi, the new cabinet consists of reformist figures, including Health Minister Mohammadreza Zafarqandi, who, despite receiving the lowest number of votes at 163, secured his position. The endorsement of the ministers is not merely a formality; one minister proposed by Raisi in 2021 lost a vote of confidence due to a lack of experience.
Pezeshkian addressed the 285 parliamentary members present on Wednesday, stating, “The path to our salvation is unity and solidarity.” The approval of his cabinet indicates that he has selected individuals who are acceptable to all centers of power within Iran’s theocracy, avoiding the selection of controversial candidates.
Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who supported Pezeshkian during the election campaign, later resigned from his position as Vice President due to the cabinet’s composition. Farzaneh Sadeq has been approved as Minister of Roads and Transportation, making her the second female cabinet minister since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
Mohsen Paknejad was approved as Minister of Oil after serving as Deputy Minister from 2018 to 2021. Abbas Araqchi, who received 247 votes to become Foreign Minister, managed to convince skeptical parliamentarians due to his prominent role in negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program in 2015 with six world powers.
In his statements during discussions with the parliament, Araqchi reaffirmed that he maintains the same worldview he had while employed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and expressed support for a parliamentary proposal from 2020 that reinforced Iran’s hard stance on its nuclear program.
The United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump, leading to the reimposition of sanctions against Iran. However, indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Tehran to revive the deal and lift costly sanctions have stalled.
During his speech to the parliament on Sunday, Araqchi emphasized that Tehran will continue its policy of good neighborliness and negotiations to lift sanctions. “China, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and East Asia are priority regions in our foreign policy,” he stated, adding that Europe could become a priority if it alters its “belligerent behavior,” while relations with the U.S. would only be informed by “conflict management.”