With the early hours following the announcement of the nominated ministers in President Masoud Bezhakian's new government, criticism of this cabinet formation has risen, accusing the president of breaking his promise and turning against those who voted for him and provided support during his electoral campaign. The newspaper "Jomhouri Islami" explicitly criticized the new government and its ministers, stating that Bezhakian's cabinet does not differ from the previous one in terms of security dominance, adding that there is no hope for any change through this government, which can at most extend the current situation.
The newspaper "Arman Melli" highlighted Zarif's resignation, headlining on its front page: "In response to the list of ministerial candidates... Zarif announces his resignation." It quoted excerpts from a post by former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif following his resignation from the position of "Assistant to the President for Strategic Affairs" just days after his appointment. In Zarif's post after announcing his resignation, he stated: "I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my work and feel ashamed that I could not obtain the opinions of the experts. This initial experience was filled with shortcomings and will surely be improved in the future. I apologize for my inability to follow up on matters in the corridors of domestic politics. Some regarded me as quick-tempered."
The newspaper "Jahan San'at" published a large photo of Bezhakian's proposed ministers and headlined: "Bezhakian's ministerial lineup... far from expectations." The reformist paper "Setareh Sobh" commented on the subject: "Reactions to Bezhakian's ministerial lineup... reformists dissatisfied, and conservatives satisfied." The newspaper also commented on the nomination of Abbas Araghchi for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicating that this choice reflects the government's desire to continue constructive negotiations with the West and the United States, expressing concern that extremist parliament members may withhold trust from Araghchi due to their negative stance towards the nuclear agreement, asserting that any efforts to improve economic conditions without resolving the crisis with the United States will inevitably fail.
"Donyay-e Eghtesad": Secret Agreement on Ministry and Position Sharing in Bezhakian’s Government
The newspaper "Donyay-e Eghtesad" noted that the list of candidates for Bezhakian's cabinet was surprising and shocking to many who voted for him in the presidential elections, pointing out the absence of Sunni ministers among the list. The paper also remarked that the lack of young candidates—contrary to electoral promises—was striking, especially given the presence of at least three ministers from Raisi's conservative government, making Bezhakian's administration appear to turn its back on reformists who had promised much change for their constituents. The newspaper mentioned that Bezhakian's cabinet formation reveals an agreement made behind the scenes to distribute positions, where each faction was allocated a share of ministries and responsibilities, regardless of the qualifications or expertise of the individuals chosen.
"Etela'at": Absence of Youth, Women, and Sunnis in Bezhakian's Government
Political analyst Abbas Abdi, in an article for the newspaper "Etela'at," argued that the ministerial candidates list presented by the president yesterday may partially address the rift within the ruling system, but regarding the gap between the people and the authority, this ministerial formation may not be capable of bridging the divides. The writer questioned the absence of women, youth, and Sunnis among the ministerial candidates, criticizing the increasing age of ministers in the new government, and clarified that this choice is due to these figures' positions on the country's circumstances, opting for those who are compliant with the ongoing situation. He also inquired about the weak representation of women in the ministerial list, asserting that the president should clarify the reasons behind this and whether he sees any barrier to the presence of women in his government, adding: "As for the absence of Sunnis, the matter is clearer; there are qualified individuals who were nominated to the president, but no one knows why he rejected them, and Bezhakian must clarify this and his motivations."
"Arman Emrooz": Proxy War with Israel Will Benefit Iran
Former Iranian ambassador Seyed Mohammad Hosseini stated that Israel and Iran share relatively similar advantages in direct warfare, while Tehran excels in proxy warfare. In his article for the newspaper "Arman Emrooz," Hosseini added that Israel has superiority in psychological, information, and cyber warfare, especially in economic warfare, having gained this advantage through support from the Western bloc led by the United States and some regional states. The Iranian diplomat Seyed Mohammad Hosseini viewed the outcome of direct war between Iran and Israel as long-term, asserting that Tehran would unequivocally be the loser due to the potential intervention of the United States, emphasizing that Iran's strength lies in proxy warfare. He confirmed that the Jewish state suffers "a thousand wounds" from Iran through its armed allies, stating that Israel stands on "the brink of destruction," and that entering into direct war with it would inevitably rescue it from such devastation, according to the perspective of the former Iranian writer and diplomat.
