Iran’s new president, widely touted in Western media outlets as a "moderate" and "reformist," has spent the weeks following his election pledging to arm regional terror groups and assembling an international "Axis of Resistance" to threaten America.
In the two weeks since he rose to the presidency, Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to continue supporting Hamas, provided Hezbollah assistance to destroy the "illegitimate Zionist regime," and lobbied for rosier relations with Russia and China as part of the trio’s Axis of Resistance against America.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported the resistance of the people in the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime," he wrote to Hezbollah's secretary general on July 8. "Supporting the resistance is rooted in the fundamental policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ideals of the late Imam Khomeini, and the guidance of the Supreme Leader, and will continue with strength."
Pezeshkian’s quick embrace of the hardline regime’s policies stands in stark contrast to his portrayal across Western media, particularly in America, where publications including the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, USA Today, and the Financial Times touted his victory as a sea change for Tehran.
Pezeshkian "looks and sounds unconventional," the Times wrote in a lengthy profile earlier this week that relied on analysis from Iran experts who have long pushed for increased U.S. diplomacy with Tehran. "The prospect of a change from a conservative to a reformist government in Iran seemed fantastical." But Pezeshkian, the outlet wrote, citing unnamed colleagues, is "outspoken, honest, and motivated by social justice."
The Financial Times touted Pezeshkian as the "first reformist president in two decades," while the Post focused on the politician’s efforts to align "himself with other moderate and reformist figures." In another Post piece headlined, "Iranian Reformist Wins Presidency, Seeks Engagement With the West," Pezeshkian was painted as "a little-known reformist and cardiac surgeon." Similar headlines appeared in USA Today and CNN, the latter of which described Pezeshkian as a "reformist [who] has favored dialogue with Iran’s foes."
"Pezeshkian is a relative moderate who pledged to engage with the West, end Internet filtering, and cease the morality police’s harassment of women," Foreign Affairs magazine wrote this week in an essay questioning whether the new president can change Tehran’s hardline policies. Scores of media outlets have asked similar questions since Pezeshkian was swept into office in what many characterized as a "surprise" win.
But policy in the Islamic Republic has always been dictated solely by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Pezeshkian could not have even entered the race without his blessing. Regional observers suspect that, like most recent elections in Iran, the outcome was rigged as part of a plot to elevate a supposed moderate who could ease widespread dissatisfaction with Iranian leadership across the country.
Iranians have been protesting the regime for years, fed up with its strict morality laws and inability to reverse decades of economic stagnation. Pezeshkian campaigned on a promise to change the situation, but regional experts say his early weeks in office signal that Tehran has no intention of changing its ways—especially when it comes to confronting American interests in the region and supplying terror groups with the ammunition needed to attack Israel.
"Pezeshkian is no insurgent in Iranian politics. Tightening ties with Russia, Hezbollah, and Hamas even before entering office proves that he is an agent of stasis," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. "Pezeshkian’s promotion by Khamenei is designed to elicit a change in substance by the West against Iran while at best presenting a veneer of a change in style."
"What Pezeshkian, and by default Khamenei, are set to benefit from most," he added, "is projection, be it from Western media or governments."
In a "Message to the New World" published last week by Pezeshkian, meanwhile, the president said he will work to expand relations with Russia and China, two key allies that have supplied Tehran with nuclear technology and helped keep its economy afloat amid a bevy of Western sanctions.
"China and Russia have consistently stood by us during challenging times," Pezeshkian wrote, saying that he will specifically work with Beijing to create "a new global order."
"Our 25-year roadmap with China represents a significant milestone towards establishing a mutually beneficial ‘comprehensive strategic partnership,’ and we look forward to collaborating more extensively with Beijing as we advance towards a new global order," Pezeshkian said in the open letter, which was published by one of Iran’s leading state-controlled news outlets.
Russia, he added, "is a valued strategic ally and neighbor to Iran and my administration will remain committed to expanding and enhancing our cooperation."
"I will continue to prioritize bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Russia, particularly within frameworks such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Eurasia Economic Union," he wrote.
Pezeshkian’s message to Israel also was clear: The Jewish state "remains an apartheid regime to this day, now adding ‘genocide’ to a record already marred by occupation, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, settlement-building, nuclear weapons possession, illegal annexation, and aggression against its neighbors."
He also praised the "many young people in Western countries have recognized the validity of our decades-long stance on the Israeli regime." Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials disclosed last week that Iran’s regime is running a multi-pronged foreign influence operation that includes paying anti-Israel protesters based in America.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a July 10 speech, said he is confident Pezeshkian will serve as a reliable ally.
"The message of the elected president of Iran was clear and definite, and that the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on its own ideology, religion, and principles, supports the oppressed and oppressed nations and the resistance front," the Hezbollah leader said.
Earlier this week, Pezeshkian held talks with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, signaling that support for Hamas remains at the top of his presidential agenda.
"Our government will put the Palestinian issue at the top of its priorities as it is the crucial issue of the Islamic world," Pezeshkian reportedly told Haniyeh. "We are doing our best to work to stop the war and stop the genocide, and the long-term step required is to end the occupation, and for the Palestinian people to obtain their full rights."
Haniyeh and other top Hamas leaders are currently sheltered in Qatar, a chief Iran ally that also has been enlisted by the Biden administration to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
On Wednesday, Pezeshkian held a diplomatic call with Qatar’s leadership to further bolster relations between the countries.
"Cooperation between Iran and Qatar comes with many mutual benefits for both sides, and the path to enhancing the level of ties will be followed with seriousness," Pezeshkian reportedly said to Qatar’s emir.
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