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On Tuesday, July 30, the inauguration ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian as the new clerical regime’s president was held in the Parliament, with the attendance of state officials and leaders of its regional proxy forces.
During the ceremony, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf acknowledged the severe loss of Ebrahim Raisi and praised Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s crisis management in replacing him. Ghalibaf stated, “The tragic and sudden martyrdom-like departure of our late President, martyr Raisi, and his esteemed companions was a renewed test for the sacred Islamic Republic on the global stage. We witnessed how, under the wise leadership of the noble Leader of the Revolution, it once again became a symbol of stability and political-military power in Islamic Iran.”
Ghalibaf also subtly reminded Pezeshkian to adhere to Khamenei’s directives, saying, “We consider the success of the new government as our own and the system’s success, in line with the explicit guidance of the noble Leader of the Revolution. Repeated assertions by the respected President on the necessity of internal consensus and adherence to the Supreme Leader’s policies, and the implementation of the country’s seventh development plan, serve as the best common ground for understanding and cooperation. In this framework, Parliament defines itself alongside the government, and we are confident that if these principles are observed by the government, Parliament, and other bodies, we will witness a unified voice of Iran.”
Emphasizing Khamenei’s war-mongering stance and reliance on other autocratic nations, Ghalibaf continued, “We will keep the door of dialogue open with others, while not allowing our nation’s dignity and national interests to be compromised. Our neighbors and countries that have helped us in difficult times are our priority. Promoting peace and stability in the region has been and remains our main concern. As we have pursued this goal with active diplomacy and strengthening the axis of resistance in recent years, we will continue this sacred path. Today, the issue of Gaza is not only the foremost issue of the world but also the foremost issue of humanity. The Gaza affair is a confrontation of the axis of honor against the axis of crime, and everyone must declare where they stand.”
Amidst Intense Factional Conflicts, #Iranian Regime’s Supreme Leader Appoints New Presidenthttps://t.co/3CcXoOJhYM
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 28, 2024
Masoud Pezeshkian began his speech by emphasizing conformity and obedience, hailing the regime’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini, slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, and his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi.
Pezeshkian acknowledged the regime’s dire situation and public dissatisfaction: “With the grace of the benevolent Lord, the wisdom of the Supreme Leader, and the intelligent vote of the people, the 14th presidential term has opened a new opportunity for Iran and the world. It is an opportunity to recognize the critical conditions of the country and the difficulties of people’s lives, to hear the voice of all segments of the nation and their call for transformation and change, to reform ineffective governance approaches and practices, to create hope and unity to overcome complex crises ahead, and to rectify the unfavorable behaviors of global powers towards the brave people of Iran. The axis of convergence will be adherence to the constitution, vision document, and the general policies approved by the Supreme Leader.”
Despite these assurances, Pezeshkian’s recent remarks reveal a confluence of contradictions and backpedaling, highlighting his critical situation and the regime he claims to preserve.
While Pezeshkian claimed to have made no specific promises since being named President-elect, his election campaign highlighted reviving the JCPOA, lifting sanctions, removing Iran from the FATF blacklist, expanding relations with China and Russia, and eventually Europe, establishing global relations, countering internet censorship, and respecting the demands of women and girls.
However, a few days before the inauguration, “The Supreme Leader’s Office” media tried to portray Pezeshkian as a loyalist to the Supreme Leader, emphasizing the alignment of the executive branch with the tightly-vetted Parliament and the cleansed Judiciary.
Decoding #Khamenei’s Remarks While Appointing #Iranian Regime’s New Presidenthttps://t.co/Z18UCQ1MMq
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 29, 2024
Pezeshkian who was declared the winner in a sham election with historically low turnout, repeatedly emphasized that his government would not deviate from the regime’s path: whether stating that the next president’s duty was to “continue the previous path (Raisi’s administration)” or that his main promise was to follow “the system’s and the Leader’s general policies.”
In one of his first actions as the declared winner, Pezeshkian wrote letters to leaders of extremist militant groups, reaffirming Tehran’s comprehensive support. The sparse attendance of international officials at Pezeshkian’s inauguration drew attention on social media.
Since Monday afternoon, Pezeshkian had met with various officials from South Africa, Syria, Cuba, Yemen, and Malaysia, as well as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah. Ahmad Zeidabadi, a state-affiliated media activist, remarked that the “lackluster and low-level attendance of international delegations” at the ceremony “indicates that the international community does not expect significant change and transformation in the ongoing policies of the Islamic Republic.”
According to the parliamentary bylaws, the President is required to present a general program and the names of proposed ministers to Parliament within two weeks of the inauguration. As rival factions continue to vie for influence over the new cabinet, the clerical regime is now bracing for increased internal disputes and animosity over strategic direction. This comes as the regime struggles to navigate multiple domestic, regional, and international crises.
