SAEDNEWS: One year into Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidency, reformist politician Mohammad‑Ali Abtahi hails him as Iran’s most “wronged” and “unlucky” leader—crediting him with standing firm against hardliners, securing citizens’ livelihoods during wartime, and thwarting foreign plots.
According to Saed News, in an interview with the Shargh newspaper, reformist activist Mohammad‑Ali Abtahi praised President Pezeshkian’s first year in office, calling him “the most oppressed and perhaps the unluckiest president in Iran’s history.” Abtahi noted that while many Iranians enthusiastically voted for Pezeshkian, they did not represent an absolute majority—some simply voted to block another candidate. Yet once Pezeshkian assumed office, he won broad approval.
“Up close, his conduct may have had flaws,” Abtahi admitted, “but from a long‑shot perspective, he was highly successful.” He lauded Pezeshkian’s defiance of hardline factions in parliament—whose threats to block key legislation were curbed out of deference to the Supreme Leader—and his refusal to implement a mandatory hijab bill that risked fracturing society. “Standing firm against that decree, which would have only weakened the public, was a major achievement,” Abtahi said.
Abtahi argued that Pezeshkian’s insistence on maintaining domestic calm, avoiding war, and focusing on reconstruction put him at odds with Israeli interests—“which have never wanted Iran to be stable, advanced, or insulated from extremists.” He traced a series of hostile acts against Iran back to Pezeshkian’s inauguration day, when Israeli agents allegedly attempted to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“In Lebanon, they targeted Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and Sheikh Safiddin, then struck other Hezbollah figures; they even orchestrated regime change in Syria—the main pillar of Iran’s regional support,” Abtahi recounted. “Pezeshkian’s administration understood these were efforts to undermine Iran, which is why he pressed for negotiations and sat powerfully at the table with the Supreme Leader’s blessing.”
Abtahi acknowledged that Israel and the United States criticized Pezeshkian’s outreach—but argued that refusal to negotiate would have played into their narrative. “By agreeing to talks, he deprived them of propaganda leverage—until they lobbed a missile into the negotiation chamber.”
He condemned the unprecedented direct assault by Israel—backed by the United States—during the conflict, and praised Pezeshkian for shining “throughout the war,” ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of food staples, electricity, water, communications and bread to the populace.
“Read the annals of war, famine and societal collapse,” Abtahi urged. “Mr Pezeshkian is Iran’s most oppressed—and perhaps most unlucky—president. Well done. Now that genuine national unity is radiating among the people rather than the officials, honor these citizens more than ever. Accelerate your promises of solidarity, personal freedoms, forgiveness for individual missteps, and an open, accessible communication environment.”
Abtahi concluded with a prayer for Pezeshkian’s success: “On the anniversary of his first year—which encompassed events equivalent to a century—we pray for greater achievements for you and your government.”
