Iran’s acting President Mohammad Mokhber addressed the nation’s new parliament on May 27 in his first public speech since the tragic death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Mokhber’s address comes as Iran prepares for a presidential snap election. Expressing his deep sense of loss, Mokhber stated, “It is very difficult for me to appear in this parliament instead of our dear martyr president, Ayatollah Raisi.”
Reflecting on Raisi’s legacy, Mokhber said, “I had a close relationship with the martyr Raisi for several years. He had outstanding personal qualities that led to this popularity that the people show today.” He praised Raisi’s dedication to the Islamic system and the values of the Islamic Revolution, which he believed were key to his successful presidency.
Mokhber also highlighted Iran’s economic resilience under Raisi, particularly in the oil sector. Despite international sanctions, Iran’s daily oil production is set to increase from 3.3 million barrels to over 3.6 million barrels. He noted that even after Operation True Promise, there were no significant changes in the nation’s foreign currency, inflation, or liquidity, demonstrating economic stability.
“Three countries were hit. We hit Israel, and people find that figures and indexes are the same in the morning when they wake up; the price of hard currency is the same, inflation is the same, liquidity is the same, and the market is full of people’s needs,” Mokhber remarked. He attributed this strength to the guidance of the supreme leader and the efforts of Ayatollah Raisi.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei inaugurated the nation’s twelfth parliament, emphasizing the importance of strengthening Iran’s religious democracy, which he described as a “great divine gift.” Khamenei highlighted the potential of the new parliament to combine innovation with maturity, thereby safeguarding the legislative process and preventing instability.
Mokhber reaffirmed Iran's commitment to supporting resistance movements, especially Palestinian resistance, against US and Israeli influence in West Asia. He assured that this goal would continue to be upheld by the new government.
