The Iranian Students' News Network reported today, Sunday, that the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament announced President Masoud Bezhakian's nomination of Abas Araghchi for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Who is he? Araghchi is a seasoned pragmatic diplomat who served as the chief negotiator in nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers from 2013 to 2021. He previously held the position of Iran's ambassador to Turkey and Japan, and was Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Pacific Affairs for two years before briefly becoming the ministry's spokesperson in 2013. During Mohammad Javad Zarif's tenure as Foreign Minister, Araghchi was the second most influential figure in the Foreign Ministry, holding positions such as Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs. Araghchi holds a PhD in Political Thought from the University of Kent.
In related news, the Iranian Parliament speaker announced that Bezhakian has nominated Mohsen Bakenghad for the position of Minister of Oil. This announcement was made during a live broadcast of a parliamentary session by the Iranian Students' News Network. Bakenghad served as Deputy Minister of Oil overseeing hydrocarbon resources from 2018 to 2021. He was a member of the board of directors of the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company from 2000 to 2007, and from 2005 to 2007, he served as Planning Manager at the company, later becoming Deputy Director of Integrated Planning at the National Iranian Oil Company until 2013, according to the Iranian Oil Ministry's news network (Shana). Bakenghad holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tehran and a master's degree in industrial engineering from Amir Kabir University of Technology.
Woman as Vice President
Additionally, the Iranian president issued a presidential decree yesterday, Saturday, appointing Zahra Behrouz Azar (42 years old) as his deputy for Women's and Family Affairs. Azar is considered one of the most prominent critics of the country’s controversial morality police.
