Review of Ministerial Qualifications from Araqchi to Zafarghandi
On Sunday, August 19, 2024, the Islamic Consultative Assembly held the second day of reviewing the qualifications of the proposed ministers of Masoud Pezeshkian’s government. In this session, which was held in both morning and afternoon sessions, the qualifications of the proposed ministers for the ministries of Intelligence, Economic Affairs and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Health and Medical Education, and Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare were reviewed. The session was full of heated debates and statements from both supporting and opposing representatives.
Review of Proposed Ministers
1. Ministry of Intelligence – Hojjatoleslam Esmail Khatib
- Supporters: Representatives supporting Khatib pointed to his experience in the security field and deemed him a suitable individual for this position. One of the supporters noted that Khatib had a successful track record in managing security issues during his previous responsibilities and that his presence in the Ministry of Intelligence could help strengthen the country’s security.
- Opponents: Opponents expressed concerns about Khatib’s past performance in certain areas and argued that he had not been successful in dealing with some internal threats. Hojjatoleslam Ghasem Ravanbakhsh was among the opponents who voiced his concerns and emphasized that selecting appropriate ministers for these positions should be done with greater care.
2. Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance – Abdolnaser Hemmati
- Supporters: Hemmati’s supporters praised his background in the Central Bank and other economic institutions and considered him a capable manager for reforming the country’s economic structures. Some representatives pointed to his economic plans to address current challenges.
- Opponents: On the other hand, opponents pointed to the country’s economic weaknesses during Hemmati’s tenure at the Central Bank and emphasized that he had not been successful in controlling inflation and financial crises. These criticisms were mostly based on the results of his economic performance in recent years.
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Seyed Abbas Araqchi
- Supporters: Araqchi’s supporters considered him a suitable individual for this position due to his long experience and success in nuclear negotiations. The supporting representatives believed that Araqchi could effectively secure Iran’s interests in the international diplomatic arena, especially in relation to Western countries.
- Opponents: However, some opponents believed that Araqchi might not be able to manage the current diplomatic crises and that his policies might not yield favorable results for the country.
4. Ministry of Health and Medical Education – Mohammadreza Zafarghandi
- Supporters: Representatives supporting Zafarghandi pointed to his experiences in the medical field and managing health crises. They believed he could strengthen the country’s health and medical system.
- Opponents: Opponents expressed concerns about Zafarghandi’s ability to manage health crises, especially in pandemic situations, and believed he should provide more precise plans to address such challenges.
5. Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare – Ahmad Meidari
- Supporters: Najib Hosseini, one of the representatives supporting Meidari, described him as a scholarly and honest individual who could help improve the conditions of workers and enhance social conditions. Hosseini also mentioned the support of prominent figures like Ahmad Tavakoli for Meidari.
- Opponents: Opponents, referring to Meidari’s political past, expressed concerns about his ability to manage the social and economic challenges of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare. They pointed to past political differences and issues related to social justice.
The sessions for reviewing the proposed ministers are still ongoing, and the representatives of the Assembly will vote after a complete review of the qualifications of the 19 proposed ministers in the coming days. It is likely that this voting will extend until Wednesday, August 22. The final outcome of these sessions and the Assembly’s decision on these ministers will play a significant role in determining the path of the new government.
