TEHRAN– New Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has unveiled his cabinet nominees in a list presented to the Iranian parliament for approval. 

The list, consisting of 19 figures proposed for 19 ministerial positions, will be scrutinized by the parliament’s specialized commissions before getting discussed in plenary sessions as of August 17. 

Noteworthy highlights from the proposed cabinet include an average age of under 60 years, with the youngest minister born in 1976 and the oldest in 1957. A woman has been nominated for a ministerial position after over 13 years. Additionally, 14 out of the 19 individuals presented are stepping into ministerial roles for the first time, bringing fresh perspectives to governance. 

The following are brief profiles of the proposed ministers:

Ministry of Education:
Alireza Kazemi

Alireza Kazemi (born in 1965 in Mashhad) is an educated figure in both religious studies and academia and a faculty member at Farhangian University. Throughout various stages of his career, he has held numerous responsibilities in this sector, one of the most significant being the supervision of the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran in September 2021.

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology:
Sattar Hashemi 

Sattar Hashemi, born in 1976 in Yasuj, is a distinguished academic with a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering. He currently serves as a full professor in the Computer Engineering Department at Shiraz University. Between 2019 and 2021, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Technology and Innovation in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 

Ministry of Intelligence:
Esmaeil Khatib 

The figure nominated as the Minister of Intelligence has been holding the position since 2021 when he was appointed as the head of the Intelligence Ministry by the late President Ebrahim Raisi. Before becoming a minister, Esmaeil Khatib spent several decades serving in different intelligence ranks within the IRGC, Iran’s Leader’s office, and the presidential office. 

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance:
Abdolnaser Hemmati

Abdolnaser Hemmati served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran from 2018 to 2021. He represented the Reformist faction in the 2021 presidential election, securing third place. Before his role at the CBI, Hemmati held key positions within the Iranian government, including Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and Governor of the Central Insurance of Iran.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Abbas Araghchi 

Abbas Araghchi, a seasoned Iranian diplomat, joined the Foreign Ministry in 1989. He served in various roles, including chargé d'affaires in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ambassador to Finland and Japan, and political deputy at the Foreign Ministry from 2017 to 2021. In his most memorable role, Araqchi led Iran's nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 during President Hassan Rouhani's administration.

Ministry of Health and Medical Education:
Mohammadreza Zafarghandi

Mohammadreza Zafarghandi is a vascular surgeon and a distinguished professor at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He currently holds the position of Secretary-General of the Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Society. He served as the President of the Iranian Medical System Organization for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zafarghandi did volunteer work as a surgeon during the Iran-Iraq war. 

Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare:
Ahmad Meydari 

Ahmad Meydari, a prominent Iranian economist, served as Deputy for Social Welfare at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare during President Rouhani's administration. He has a diverse background in government, academia, and research, including serving as Deputy Minister of Labour, a member of Parliament, and an advisor to the Deputy Minister of Economy.

Ministry of Agriculture Jihad:
Gholamreza Nouri Ghezelcheh 

Gholamreza Ghezelcheh, a representative from Bostanabad in the Iranian Parliament, holds a Master's in Agricultural Engineering and is pursuing a PhD in Agricultural Policy and Development. He’s had positions in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Governor's office of West Azerbaijan, and the Economic Coordination Office of East Azerbaijan Province, contributing to economic development in the region.

Ministry of Justice:
Amin Hossein Rahimi 

Amin Hossein Rahimi, a seasoned jurist with over 35 years of experience, has been nominated to serve a consecutive term as the Minister of Justice. He previously served in various high-level positions within the Judiciary, including Deputy for Human Resources and Cultural Affairs, Prosecutor General of the Court of Audit, and advisor to the head of the Judiciary.

Ministry of Defence:
Aziz Nasirzadeh 

Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh has served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2021. Nasirzadeh's distinguished military career spans over four decades, including a critical role as a pilot during the Iran-Iraq War, leadership of the Army Air Force Coordination Headquarters, and the Deputy Commander of the Army Air Force.

Ministry of Roads and Urban Development:
Farzaneh Sadegh

Farzaneh Sadegh has dedicated her 28-year career primarily to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, holding various positions including Deputy of Urban Planning, Director General of Architecture and Urban Design, and Deputy for Architecture and Urban Planning. Currently, she serves as an urban planning and architecture advisor to the Minister of Roads and Urban Development.

Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade:
Mohammad Atabak 

Mohammad Atabak holds a Master's degree in Civil Engineering and has extensive experience in various industrial sectors. He has held leadership roles in numerous important companies, including Tehran Cement Company, Ekbatan Company, and Kavir Pars Mining Industries Holding, as well as served as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Atabak is currently the Chairman of the National Cement Association.

Ministry of Science, Research and Technology:
Hossein Sarraf

Hossein Simaei, a legal expert with a PhD in Private Law, served as Secretary of the Government Board from 2019 to 2022. His extensive experience includes various executive roles within the Ministry of Science, as well as positions in the Judiciary and the Office of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Simaei has been praised for his strong legal and administrative background.

Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance:
Abbas Salehi 

Abbas Salehi has an extensive experience in academia, cultural institutions, and government. He majored in philosophy and religion and has taught at various Iranian universities. He is currently the CEO of the Ettela'at Institute and Newspaper, as well as the president of the University of Islamic Denominations. Salehi used to be a deputy at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. 

Ministry of Interior:
Eskandar Momeni 

Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni holds a PhD in National Security. He has extensive experience in law enforcement, having served as head of the Traffic Police, advisor to the President, and Secretary of the Anti-Drug Headquarters. Momeni's background includes service in the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq War and command of the Law Enforcement Force in Khorasan Province.

Ministry of Sport and Youth:
Ahmad Donyamali

Ahmad Donyamali is a seasoned sports administrator who currently serves as the representative for Bandar-e Anzali in Iran's Parliament, a position he has held since 2020. His career includes significant roles such as Chairman of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran and President of the Canoeing, Rowing & Sailing Federation. Donyamali holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the Islamic Azad University.

Ministry of Energy:
Abbas Aliabadi

Abbas Aliabadi is a university professor with a robust executive background, holding a Ph.D. in Control Engineering from K. N. Toosi University of Technology. He has held key academic roles, including Assistant Professor at Imam Hossein University and President of Malek Ashtar University of Technology. Aliabadi has also served as CEO of the MAPNA Group for over 15 years.

Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts:
Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri

Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri is a seasoned politician with a Ph.D. in Public Administration and a long history of public service. His extensive experience includes serving as President of the National Olympic Committee, Deputy Mayor of Tehran for Social and Cultural Affairs, and Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Iran's 11th administration.

Ministry of Petroleum:
Mohsen Paknejad

Mohsen Paknejad holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tehran and a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology. His career includes serving as Deputy Minister of Petroleum for Supervision of Hydrocarbon Resources and holding key leadership positions in both the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO).