On Sunday, July 28, 2024, amid intense factional disputes, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei officially appointed Masoud Pezeshkian as the President of Iran’s clerical regime.
Despite Khamenei’s public support, reactions from affiliated media and officials suggested that this alliance might be superficial and short-lived. Khamenei’s chief of staff, Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, read the decree praising Pezeshkian but also setting strict conditions: “This endorsement of mine will continue as long as their course in following the true path of Islam and the revolution remains steady.” Pezeshkian expressed gratitude and loyalty to Khamenei and praised late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and current President Ebrahim Raisi, acknowledging Khamenei’s “kindness and wisdom.”
State media reported significant absences at the inauguration, including former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, highlighting the underlying political tensions. The new president’s inauguration was marked by power struggles, as noted by Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a former chairman of the regime’s parliamentary security commission, who warned, “The purifiers are sharpening their teeth to trap the government. Pezeshkian should know that any price hikes will be his downfall.”
Ali Abdolalizadeh, Pezeshkian’s campaign chief, faced protests for emphasizing the role of officials close to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, leading to chants of “Lies, lies” and “We don’t want a coalition government.
” The state-run Etemad newspaper sarcastically responded to claims that “Pezeshkian receives a saddled horse” from Raisi’s administration by highlighting economic deterioration, noting significant increases in the dollar exchange rate, meat, chicken, cars, and housing prices during Raisi’s term.
On July 26, Allah-Noor Karimitabar, Friday prayer leader in Ilam, remarked that the people expect the new president to choose cabinet ministers independently to solve societal issues rather than create political tensions. Similarly, Hassan Ameli, Khamenei’s representative in Ardabil, laid the groundwork for Pezeshkian’s potential failure by stating that the Supreme Leader’s full support means any failures cannot be attributed to obstruction, as “everything is at his disposal.”
In Tehran’s Friday prayer sermon on July 26, Kazem Seddiqi advised the President-elect to consult with parliament members before nominating cabinet members to avoid future conflicts. Pezeshkian, in an interview on Khamenei’s website, assured that his cabinet choices would align with the Supreme Leader’s directives, emphasizing, “The policies of the Supreme Leader are our guiding light. If we accept and implement these policies, any disagreement becomes meaningless.”
Pezeshkian described Qassem Soleimani as “a symbol of Iranian pride and honor” and acknowledged that his presidency would not have happened without Khamenei’s support.
On the same day, Mahmoud Nabavian, an influential member of Khamenei’s faction and the regime’s parliament, declared, “The parliament will not give a vote of confidence to anyone with foreign ties or whose family lives abroad.”
In an attempt to neutralize rival faction attacks, Mohammad Mohajeri, a member of the board of directors of the Khabar Online website, suggested that all state-affiliated media should operate under their real names and identities to eliminate media-related pitfalls. He advocated for transparency, stating that media outlets should display the emblems of their supporting institutions, such as the IRGC or Basij, to foster accountability.
Pezeshkian, in an interview on Khamenei’s website, assured that his cabinet choices would align with the Supreme Leader’s directives, emphasizing, “The policies of the Supreme Leader are our guiding light.
The political climate surrounding Pezeshkian’s appointment underscores the deep divisions within Iran’s clerical regime, casting doubt on the stability and longevity of his presidency.
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