Iran Parliament Approves President Pezeshkian's Cabinet

Iran's hard-line parliament has approved the entire 19-member cabinet of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, a historic move not seen since 2001. The vote included key appointments such as Abbas Araghchi as Foreign Minister, known for his role in the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations, and Aziz Nasirzadeh as Defense Minister, who received the highest support. Pezeshkian, who won the presidency following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, aims to revive relations with the West and the nuclear agreement, which has been strained since the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. He has expressed a commitment to uphold the principles of the Islamic republic while advocating for more humane treatment of women regarding hijab laws. The cabinet approval comes amid ongoing economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions and a need for unity in governance.