The names of the proposed ministers in the cabinet of Iran’s newly appointed president, Clergyman Ibrahim Ra’isi, show that almost all key government posts will be filled by people with a background in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) terrorist designated organization.
Raisi’s election as president was a de facto appointment by Khamenei. The presidency is the perfect internship for the supreme leadership – a path Khamenei also followed before assuming the role. This is why expanding the IRGC’s power is in Raisi’s interest: Critically for Khamenei and his successor, the terrorist designated IRGC will play a vital role in smoothing the transition to the next supreme leader. In short, the Guard can be the kingmaker.
IRGC commanders have been slowly dominating Iran’s political scene throughout the years. This is despite the fact that Iran’s first supreme leader, Khomeini, openly spoke against any IRGC members or commanders entering politics.
Given that Ra’isi had said that he considered himself obedient to the Supreme Leader’s orders, now the ministers elected by him are all former IRGC high ranking officials and in close agreement with Khamenei and his announced policies in recent years.
The people nominated for the Ministry of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Roads and Urban Development, and Cultural Heritage and Tourism are all former IRGC commanders.
The nominee for the interior minister is Ahmad Vahidi, a former commander of the Quds Force, IRGC’s extraterritorial operations arm.
Raisi has also nominated a former commander of the Quds Force, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, as Foreign Minister.
Culture Minister Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili was Raisi’s cultural adviser at the Judiciary and represented him at the state television’s supervisory board. Iranian media close to the IRGC have characterized Esmaili as a “revolutionary” figure.
The health minister proposed by the cabinet, in flattering Ali Khamenei, had spoken out in favor of a ban on the import of vaccines made in the United States and Britain and endorsed the policy set by the Supreme Leader.
Source: Iran International
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