{"id":323339,"date":"2024-08-18T20:25:33","date_gmt":"2024-08-18T19:25:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=323339"},"modified":"2024-08-21T06:52:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T05:52:01","slug":"vetting-mps-and-ministerial-nominees-vie-to-prove-loyalty-to-khamenei-amid-irans-domestic-and-international-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/iranian-regime-infighting\/vetting-mps-and-ministerial-nominees-vie-to-prove-loyalty-to-khamenei-amid-irans-domestic-and-international-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"Vetting MPs and Ministerial Nominees Vie to Prove Loyalty to Khamenei Amid Iran\u2019s Domestic and International Crises"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On Sunday, August 18, the parliament of the clerical dictatorship in Iran continued its sessions for the second consecutive day to vet the cabinet nominees of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian<\/a>. The morning session focused on key ministries such as Intelligence, Economy, and Foreign Affairs. As the proceedings unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that this tightly controlled process is less about evaluating the competence of the nominees and more about ensuring the government’s\u00a0absolute loyalty to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the scene has devolved into a battleground for factional infighting, where rival gangs within the regime seize the opportunity to undermine each other, jockeying for power and influence under the watchful eye of Khamenei.<\/p>\n

Unrivaled Incumbent<\/h3>\n

Esmail Khatib<\/span><\/a>, the nominee for Minister of Intelligence, defended his track record with characteristic arrogance, thanking Parliament and security officials for their “support”\u2014 a clear signal of his confidence in the Supreme Leader\u2019s backing. He boasted about his role in suppressing dissent, claiming that under his watch, “arrests and detentions have decreased, and actions have been more compassionate.” Yet, this so-called compassion has been nothing more than a calculated attempt to mask the regime\u2019s ongoing brutality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khatib conveniently overlooked the glaring failures of the intelligence apparatus under his leadership in recent years. Instead, <\/span>he attempted to shift focus<\/span><\/a> by claiming that Tehran\u2019s intelligence services are in close collaboration with 53 countries, emphasizing the regime’s supposed strength in international intelligence cooperation. He praised \u201cthe increased interaction with foreign intelligence services\u201d and the strengthening of \u201cIran’s hidden and security diplomacy,” pledging to further enhance these efforts in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reasons Behind #Khamenei<\/a>\u2019s Forced Approval of Masoud Pezeshkian in #Iran<\/a>\u2019s Sham Electionhttps:\/\/t.co\/OC0zjoxuLn<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n