On Sunday, July 28, 2024, under the shadow of severe factional disputes, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei officially appointed Masoud Pezeshkian as the President of the clerical regime. Despite Khamenei’s efforts to present himself as a supporter of Pezeshkian and his upcoming government, the reactions from affiliated media and officials indicated that this alliance would be both superficial and short-lived.
In the decree read by Khamenei’s chief of staff, Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, the Supreme Leader praised Pezeshkian but also set specific conditions: “This endorsement of mine will continue as long as their course in following the true path of Islam and the revolution remains steady.”
In his remarks, Pezeshkian expressed loyalty to the Supreme Leader and praised the late Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Ebrahim Raisi, stating, “I am grateful for Khamenei’s kindness and wisdom.”
State media reported notable absences at the inauguration ceremony, including former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The political climate surrounding the new president’s inauguration was marked by intense power struggles. Citing Khamenei’s faction, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, former chairman of the regime’s parliamentary security commission, warned, “The purifiers are sharpening their teeth to trap the government. Pezeshkian should know that any price hikes will be his downfall.”
#Khamenei’s Influence and Media Battles Mark Pezeshkian’s Cabinet Selection Turmoil in #Iranhttps://t.co/CBhsRtyMDA
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 26, 2024
According to the state-run Asr Iran, during a meeting of Pezeshkian’s campaign staff in Tehran, Ali Abdolalizadeh, the campaign chief, faced protests for emphasizing the role of officials close to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Pezeshkian’s presidency, leading to chants of “Lies, lies” and “We don’t want a coalition government.”
The state-run Etemad newspaper, in a sarcastic response to the Kayhan newspaper’s claim that “Pezeshkian receives a saddled horse,” implying everything was prepared by Raisi’s administration, highlighted the economic deterioration: “When Raisi took office, the dollar was 24,000 tomans, meat was 100,000 tomans, chicken was 20,000 tomans, a Pride car was 40 million tomans, and housing was 30 million tomans per meter. Now, the dollar is 57,000 tomans, meat is 700,000 tomans, chicken is 85,000 tomans, a Pride car is 400 million tomans, and housing is 80 million tomans per meter. Are you not ashamed to hand over such a ‘saddled horse’?”
Meanwhile, in a sermon on July 26, Allah-Noor Karimitabar, Friday prayer leader in Ilam, remarked, “The people expect the new president to choose his cabinet ministers independently, those who can solve societal issues rather than create political tensions. The criteria set by the Supreme Leader for selecting ministers will be the key to the government’s success.”
Hassan Ameli, Khamenei’s representative in Ardabil, also laid the groundwork for Pezeshkian’s potential failure, saying, “The Supreme Leader has fully supported the President-elect. If there are failures, he cannot say he was obstructed since everything is at his disposal. The Leader’s words are a religious mandate.”
In Tehran’s Friday prayer sermon, Kazem Seddiqi noted on July 26, “The Leader has recommended constructive interaction with the President-elect regarding forming the cabinet. My advice is for the President to consult with parliament members before officially nominating cabinet members to avoid future conflicts.”
Reasons Behind #Khamenei’s Forced Approval of Masoud Pezeshkian in #Iran’s Sham Electionhttps://t.co/OC0zjoxuLn
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 11, 2024
In an interview on Khamenei’s website, Pezeshkian tried to fend off rival attacks by assuring that his cabinet choices would align with the Supreme Leader’s directives, stating, “A list has been presented, and we are finalizing it. Eventually, we will consult with the Supreme Leader to reach a final conclusion.”
He emphasized, “The policies of the Supreme Leader are our guiding light. If we accept and implement these policies, any disagreement becomes meaningless.”
In the interview, Pezeshkian described Qassem Soleimani, the notorious Quds Force commander responsible for countless atrocities, as “a symbol of Iranian pride and honor.”
Furthermore, Pezeshkian appeared on state television on July 26, stating, “Without the presence of the Supreme Leader, these developments (my presidency) would not have happened.”
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.”
Furthermore, in an attempt to neutralize the attacks of the rival faction, Mohammad Mohajeri, a member of the board of directors of the Khabar Online website, said, “Cyber forces operate under the management of a political faction and whenever they receive orders, they engage in destruction. The best course of action is for all state-affiliated media to operate under their real names and identities. This means that these media outlets should work with the institutions that fund them. For example, if a media outlet belongs to the Basij, it should display the IRGC or Basij emblem on its site. This action will eliminate media-related pitfalls.”