Iran’s Hard-Line Parliament Approves Entire Cabinet for First Time Since 2001

In a rare and significant political achievement, Iran’s hard-line parliament has approved all members of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s Cabinet. This marks the first time in over two decades that an Iranian leader has successfully secured approval for every Cabinet member.
The endorsement is a notable early win for Pezeshkian, a seasoned lawmaker who ascended to the presidency following the tragic death of his hard-line predecessor in a helicopter crash in May. The approval underscores Pezeshkian’s strategic selection of a Cabinet designed to appeal to various power centers within Iran’s complex political landscape.
To emphasize the spirit of consensus, Pezeshkian posted a photo online showing him alongside Iran’s judiciary chief and the parliament speaker, highlighting his commitment to uniting different factions within the country’s leadership. The caption, “Consensus for Iran,” reflects his intention to foster political harmony.
Notably, Pezeshkian’s Cabinet includes Abbas Araghchi, a veteran diplomat and key figure in the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations, as the new Foreign Minister. Araghchi’s appointment aligns with Pezeshkian’s campaign promise to seek a revival of the nuclear agreement, which was undermined by the U.S. withdrawal and subsequent sanctions in 2018.
Aziz Nasirzadeh, the new Defense Minister and former head of the Iranian Air Force, received the highest approval, with 281 votes from 288 lawmakers present. In contrast, Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi received the lowest number of votes, with 163.
Farzaneh Sadegh, the only female minister, has been appointed as Housing and Road Minister. At 47, she is the first woman to hold a ministerial position in Iran in over a decade, receiving 231 votes.
Other notable appointments include Ismail Khatib as Intelligence Minister and Amin Hossein Rahimi as Justice Minister, both of whom previously served under late President Ebrahim Raisi. Abbas Aliabadi, Raisi’s former Minister of Industries, has been named Energy Minister.
Pezeshkian’s success in securing full Cabinet approval is particularly striking given the tradition of dropping proposed ministers in Iran’s parliament. Former reformist President Mohammad Khatami is the only previous leader to have achieved unanimous support for his Cabinet in both 1997 and 2001.