Pezeshkian must deliver to regain people’s lost trust, says politician

A prominent centrist politician in Tehran asserts that over the years, hardliners endorsed by Khamenei, as well as reformist, conservative, and moderate governments, have all failed to deliver and the nation can hardly trust anyone.

According to Gholamhossein Karbaschi, former Tehran mayor and secretary-general of the centrist Executives of Construction Party, hardliners, reformists, and even the current Pezeshkian administration risk losing public trust unless Pezeshkian fulfills key promises. Karbaschi emphasized that Pezeshkian needs to show he is committed to changes in social media and hijab restrictions, and the release of protest leaders, as he has publicly pledged, in order to distinguish his government and gain credibility.

On foreign policy, Karbaschi emphasized that the public desires leaders to avoid creating tensions and to work on reducing existing ones. He stressed that easing relations, even with the United States, should be a fundamental principle of Iran's foreign policy, advocating for a more pragmatic and conciliatory approach to international relations.

Karbaschi also said in his interview with "reformist" Didar News: "If Pezeshkian fails to deliver, all hope will go out the window," Karbaschi warned. He added that in the recent presidential election, people were fed up by ongoing domestic and foreign policy issues, alongside economic crises. Despite their frustration, it was clear they were ready for change. However, due to past restrictions on candidates, many had lost faith in the electoral process. Karbaschi stressed that Pezeshkian must seize this opportunity to enact meaningful reforms to restore public trust.

He pointed out that the crackdown on women defying the hijab, the poisoning of schoolchildren—allegedly orchestrated by hardline elements—along with worsening social issues and increasing economic hardship, have intensified the public’s demand for change. The stalemate in Iran’s foreign relations has further fueled this unrest. Karbaschi added that the public's reluctance to participate in recent elections reflects their disappointment with all political factions, including the "reformists," whose performance has contributed to widespread disillusionment with the political process.

During this week, Pezeshkian has said that he believes solving the country's economic problems needs an "economic surgery." However, some economists have expressed doubts that the idea which is reminiscent of an expression used by former President Ebrahim Raisi could be a prelude to a new round of price rises.

Meanwhile, National Development Fund Chief Mehdi Ghazanfari quoted Pezeshkian as having said that he will not allow the underprivileged to be crushed under the pressure of any economic reforms. He further warned the President that a less painful road to development is feasible only through oil exports, but did not offer any further explanation.

Discussing ways to address Iran's cultural and economic issues, Pezeshkian recently called for encouraging Iranian expatriates to invest in the country. "We should assure Iranians living abroad that they won’t face harm if they return to Iran," he said. However, social media users quickly questioned why this attitude doesn't start with Iranians already living in the country, suggesting that offering better internet access and social media freedoms would be a good first step in improving the domestic situation.

Karbaschi stated that Pezeshkian may not be able to solve all the problems, but he needs to show that he is doing his best. This will also encourage the people to take part in future elections.

When asked about Pezeshkian's chances of success, Karbaschi noted, "I believe he made those promises based on agreements with key individuals. However, if he fails to fulfill them—such as lifting internet filtering—it will damage his credibility, especially since internet access is crucial to many people's livelihoods." Karbaschi added that failing to deliver on these promises would not only harm public trust in the government but also further diminish hope for the future.