'Criticize After Performance': President Pezeshkian on Proposed Cabinet

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has responded to mounting criticism over his proposed cabinet and called for patience and fair judgment based on its performance.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian addressed the public, saying, "Dear people, you are the government's greatest asset. Your attention and sensitivity in selecting cabinet members is valuable. Indifference to politicians' behavior has given way to criticism. This means we have taken a step forward."

The president emphasized the consultative process behind the cabinet selections, noting, "In the selection and review stage of the cabinet, we consulted numerous experts and tried to create the best possible situation with existing capacities, using an approach of consensus and empathy."

Pezeshkian urged the critics to reserve their judgment, saying, "Let the cabinet work and criticize it based on its performance."

His response comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the proposed cabinet members. 

The proposed cabinet has drawn attention for its lack of diversity, having only one woman, no Sunni ministers, and no representation from ethnic minorities. 

Additionally, there is a strong presence of individuals with security and military backgrounds, which has raised concerns.

Azar Mansouri, head of the Reform Front, condemned the proposed cabinet, saying, "One should not expect miracles from this government, especially considering that more than 80 percent of the country's power is in the hands of other entities."

The nominated cabinet's average age of 59.7 contradicts Pezeshkian's earlier promise that 60 percent of ministers would be under 50. 

Key nominations include Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who previously served as Mohd Javad Zarif's deputy during Hassan Rouhani's presidency. 

Esmail Khatib, nominated as Minister of Intelligence, has a controversial record, including oversight during the deadly explosion in Kerman earlier this year.

Javad Imam, a spokesperson for the Reform Front, voiced his concerns about the nominated cabinet, saying it continued the "control of the military and militias over politics." 

The Reform Front criticized the government's approach, questioning the necessity of elections if the aim was to maintain the status quo. 

Mohammad Javad Zarif, deputy for strategic affairs to President  Pezeshkian, recently resigned over the cabinet nominations. He said that only three of the 19 ministers introduced were the first choices recommended by a committee responsible for candidate selection.