Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has proposed Abbas Araghchi, a former nuclear negotiator, as the country’s new foreign minister and a woman as roads and housing minister. If approved, she would be Iran’s first female minister in over a decade. Araghchi was part of the team that negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and Pezeshkian aims to revive this agreement after the U.S. withdrew in 2018.
Additionally, Pezeshkian suggested Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh as defense minister, making it the first time an air force member would lead the defense ministry. Farzaneh Sadegh was proposed as roads and housing minister, potentially becoming only the second female minister in Iran’s history. Despite opposition from hard-line lawmakers, Pezeshkian also named moderate candidates for interior, oil, and energy ministries.
The president’s choice drew criticism, leading to the resignation of Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif. Zarif expressed dissatisfaction with the Cabinet’s composition, as it failed to incorporate more diversity as promised. Pezeshkian now faces challenges from a hard-line-dominated parliament in implementing his proposed ministers and pursuing his agenda.