Iranian Parliament Approves President Pezeshkian's Cabinet

Iran's parliament has granted a vote of confidence to all 19 ministers proposed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, marking the first time since 2001 that a president has achieved full cabinet approval. The cabinet includes notable figures such as Abbas Araghchi as foreign minister and Aziz Nasirzadeh as defense minister, who received the highest number of votes at 281. Farzaneh Sadegh has made history as the first female minister in over a decade, appointed as Roads and Urban Development Minister. President Pezeshkian emphasized that his selections were made after consultations with key security organizations, including the IRGC. However, the cabinet has been criticized for its lack of diversity, featuring only one woman and no representation from ethnic minorities or Sunni Muslims. The approval reflects a significant moment in Iranian politics as Pezeshkian aims to revive the nuclear deal negotiations following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018.