Pezeshkian Invites the Hard-Liners Into the Tent

In late August, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting aired an interview of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. In a striking departure from past practice, the tightly controlled state-run media outlet replaced its regular anchors with a reformist, a centrist, and a hard-line political activist to interview the president. The prerecorded, carefully edited broadcast gave Pezeshkian a platform to underscore his central theme: the need for unity and solidarity in the face of Iran’s mounting challenges. The subsequent appointment of hard-liner Ali Bagheri Kani as deputy to Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani further reflects the regime’s effort to widen the tent by involving figures from across the political spectrum in strategic decision making. While such inclusiveness may strengthen intraelite cohesion, it also risks slowing decision making and alienating voters who supported Pezeshkian’s reformist platform. 

• August 29: The president’s website released a transcript of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s conversation with reformist activist and former Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi, hard-line commentator Abdullah Ganji, and centrist journalist Ali Reza Moezzi of Khabar Online. Highlights included: 

• • On war and foreign threats, Pezeshkian said: “We don’t want war and are struggling to avoid it. But America and Israel want to partition Iran … and no Iranian desires to see his or her country partitioned or coerced into a humiliating surrender.” 

• • On sanctions: “Of course, we are against the snapback and return of the sanctions … Most of the problems we are struggling with today are caused by the sanctions.” 

• • On internet censorship: “There is a committee investigating the issue,” prompting Abtahi to retort: “But the people voted for you to remove the filtering not for a committee.” 

• • On defense: “Our missiles count for nothing if we don’t have the people on our side.” 

• • On the hijab and chastity law: “Enforcement … would have propelled the country in a direction out of control, provoking tensions and fights … Since Parliament passed the law, it is not for me to criticize it, but the truth is, I had no idea how to enforce it … As for chastity, that is another matter. Are those abroad who do not wear the headscarf not chaste?” 

• • On Financial Action Task Force oversight: “Many oppose it, arguing the Americans ‘will find out what we do with our money,’ but in reality, the FATF prevents embezzlement.” 

• August 31: Reformist Ham-Mihan published a profile of Ali Bagheri Kani, highlighting his previous role as Saeed Jalili’s deputy at the Supreme National Security Council before his appointment as SNSC Secretary Ali Larijani’s deputy. 

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