Zarif's Commitment to the Legal Process of "Security Inquiry"

Mohammad Javad Zarif, the strategic vice president of Rouhani's cabinet, recently addressed concerns during an interview with Khabar Online regarding potential changes in the final list of candidates for the fourteenth cabinet due to negotiations with Parliament, security agencies, or pressure from various entities. He stated:

“No, there is no pressure. One of the regulations in our country is that all individuals proposed for ministerial or vice-presidential positions must undergo a security inquiry.”

He clarified that this process is not unique to Iran; it exists in other countries as well and is referred to as security clearance. In the United States, for example, it is necessary to determine the security eligibility of individuals, and these inquiries must be conducted.

Zarif further noted that authorities cannot alter the cabinet composition merely by approving or rejecting inquiries; if a candidate has a problem, the president has the right to appoint someone else, and he will do so.

Zarif’s emphasis on the security inquiry process regarding ministers and key government figures is significant, especially given the ongoing discussions critiquing this legal procedure.

In this context, the comments of Fayyaz Zahed, a member of the cabinet’s steering committee, are relevant. He pointed out that there is always a risk that oversight and security agencies might not validate an individual's qualifications.