Following the reluctant announcement of Masoud Pezeshkian as the clerical regime’s new president, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has taken decisive steps to ensure the new executive chief aligns with his directives. Khamenei canceled Pezeshkian’s planned press conference and instead met privately with him on July 6. Subsequently, he dispatched high-ranking state and military officials to meet with him. On Friday, July 12, Khamenei intensified his efforts by sending his representatives to deliver public warnings during Friday prayer sermons in various cities, clearly outlining the expectations for the new president-elect.
In Arak, Ghorbanali Dorri Najafabadi expressed gratitude for Pezeshkian’s support of the proxy militants and his endorsement of Hassan Nasrallah. Najafabadi said, “From this message that the elected president sent to Mr. Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, declaring absolute support for the Resistance Front, I am personally grateful. This is a positive step and a sign to the enemies that this revolution is far from over. The revolution continues its path with strength.” He emphasized the unwavering loyalty to the regime and the Supreme Leader, invoking what he defined as “the legacy of martyrs like Qassem Soleimani.”
In Isfahan, Abolhassan Mahdavi cautioned Pezeshkian against making significant changes to existing staffing and officials. He stressed, “The elected president should continue the path of the late Ayatollah Raisi, whose loss was a great tragedy for us. Many deserving officials are currently serving and should not be replaced. This would be a loss for the country.”
Reasons Behind #Khamenei’s Forced Approval of Masoud Pezeshkian in #Iran’s Sham Electionhttps://t.co/OC0zjoxuLn
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Mahdavi added, “The leadership has stated that whoever becomes the president must commit to appointing all members of the cabinet from those who have no divergence with the revolution. Of course, I will add one more thing, because the Supreme Leader never speaks for himself. From an ethical standpoint, we also say that all members of the cabinet and those who are appointed by the president-elect, and their associates, must have no divergence with the Supreme Leader and the Supreme Leader’s viewpoint. When someone is to be appointed in a province, they consult with the local Friday prayer leader and the officials there, the elders.”
In Shahrekord, calling Pezeshkian a loyal pawn, the Friday prayer leader Abolhassan Fatemi argued, “This is a source of pride and honor that we allow different opinions to be expressed. The Guardian Council does not authenticate anyone from the Mujahedin-e-Khalq, for instance. Those who participate in this field must have some connection with the revolution.”
He added, “Our first and last request in this regard from the president-elect is exactly what the Supreme Leader of the Revolution stated on June 25, three days before the elections. In his speech on June 25, he included these sentences. I will read these sentences verbatim as our first and last request to him, and we hope that God willing, he will have the success to adhere to the Leader’s guidance. Whoever is elected should keep this in mind when selecting officials, from ministers to deputies, governors, and all the pillars of the state. The Supreme Leader’s words are: ‘Anyone who has even a slight divergence with the revolution, the system, and the Imam is not suitable for you.’”