In a striking admission, a senior Iranian official has revealed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei personally ensured the election of Masoud Pezeshkian as president to avert a major political crisis during Iran’s sham presidential race. The revelation, reported by state-run media Eco Iran on October 9, suggests that Khamenei approved Pezeshkian to prevent widespread boycotts of its sham election.
The admission came from Mohammad Jafar Qaem-Panah, Executive Deputy to the President, who was speaking at an event honoring Saeed Mohammadi, the former Deputy Executive Officer. According to Eco Iran, Qaem-Panah said, “The Supreme Leader was behind Pezeshkian’s candidacy to ensure greater participation, and it was a strategic move to maintain national interests.”
According to Eco Iran, Mohammad Jafar Qaem-Panah emphasized that Khamenei’s support for Pezeshkian was not new, but rather a continuation of their long-standing relationship. “The Supreme Leader knew Pezeshkian well and had supported him even during his time as Minister of Health,” Qaem-Panah stated. This familiarity and trust were key factors in Khamenei’s decision to back Pezeshkian’s candidacy, ensuring that a loyal figure would be in place to follow his directives and maintain the regime’s stability during a politically sensitive period.
The report also shed light on Pezeshkian’s own acknowledgment of Khamenei’s pivotal role in his selection. After his victory, Pezeshkian publicly thanked Khamenei for his support, stating, “If it weren’t for the Supreme Leader, I don’t think my name would have come out of the ballot boxes so easily.”
In addition to highlighting Khamenei’s direct involvement in the presidential election, Eco Iran outlined how the Supreme Leader also influenced key government appointments under Pezeshkian. During a parliamentary session in August, Pezeshkian admitted that Khamenei personally approved several ministerial appointments, saying, “Before presenting the list of proposed ministers, the Supreme Leader approved key figures, ensuring his influence over the government.”
Eco Iran also pointed to Khamenei’s earlier intervention in the 12th parliamentary elections, where Pezeshkian had faced potential disqualification. According to the report, Khamenei intervened to reverse the disqualification, a move Pezeshkian publicly acknowledged, crediting the Supreme Leader with saving his political career.
The complex, intertwined fabric of the clerical regime’s political game and its use of media outlets as tools of misinformation is well-known. What remains less understood is why such acknowledgments were published by the state-controlled Eco Iran. However, at the end of the day, these admissions, coupled with Pezeshkian’s actions, prove that he is anything but a voice for change. Instead, he serves as a reliable executor of Khamenei’s agenda, reinforcing the regime’s control rather than challenging it.
Source » ncr-iran