The selection process for the new cabinet has become a battleground for prominent figures and factions, each vying for influence and control. Hashim Hosseini Bushehri, the influential Friday Prayer Leader in Qom, has publicly urged President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian to appoint cabinet members who align with the policies of former President Ebrahim Raisi and have the endorsement of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
During a sermon on July 19, Bushehri emphasized the importance of continuity and loyalty, stating, “The President should choose collaborators who continue Raisi’s path and have been commended by the Supreme Leader.”Similarly, Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Mashhad, has warned Pezeshkian against deviating from Khamenei’s directives, particularly in foreign policy.
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Alamolhoda criticized previous administrations for their conflicts with the Supreme Leader, attributing their failures to such disagreements. “Every government that diverged from the Supreme Leader, particularly in foreign policy, brought only misery to the nation,” he asserted.
In a meeting with members of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alamolhoda reiterated his concerns, stressing that foreign policy must align with the country’s interests and the principles of the revolution. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, echoed these sentiments, insisting that Pezeshkian should independently select his cabinet without influence from former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. “The people voted for Pezeshkian, not Zarif,” Azizi declared.
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The internal discord has been further highlighted by former IRGC commander and current parliament member Esmail Kowsari, who stated that parliamentary cooperation would depend on the new administration’s adherence to Raisi’s model. He warned, “If the government deviates from this plan, the parliament will undoubtedly exercise its legal rights to oppose it.”
Tensions have also been inflamed by public displays of hatred towards Zarif. A video from a Tehran Friday Prayer sermon showed Basij members chanting “Zarif, get lost,” reflecting fierce internal opposition to his involvement in cabinet decisions. Mostafa Faghihi, former director of the state-run website Entekhab, criticized this premature hostility, questioning the timing of such attacks even before the cabinet announcement.
Amidst this turmoil, Abdolreza Davari, a former advisor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supporter of Pezeshkian, suggested on social media that Mossad was behind the anti-Zarif sentiments. The state-run daily Kayhan, known for its alignment with the Supreme Leader’s office, accused Pezeshkian of surrounding himself with security threats and corrupt individuals, particularly targeting Zarif.
This move was condemned by Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, a Pezeshkian supporter, as illegal and provocative. He suggested that such divisive battles could lead to public disillusionment with politics, stating: “This infighting not only prevents the country from progressing but also exhausts the people with politics. The slogan will become ‘Reformists, Principlists, it’s game over.’ All of you, get lost.”
As Iran navigates this turbulent period, the formation of the new cabinet will be a critical test of the regime’s stability and cohesion.
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