Marzieh Hashemi, senior journalist and documentary filmmaker
How remarkable the last two months have been here in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We have experienced tragedy, tears and triumph since the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi as well as his funeral, then followed by two peaceful elections. This is what I was thinking while sitting in the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah. Over the years while being in Iran, I have seen many ups and downs. But what has always been amazing to me is the resilience of this nation when confronting challenges. And the last 70 days have been no exception and a prime example of a revolution which is deeply rooted. The leaves on the branch may shake, but the tree remains intact and continues to thrive.
On Sunday, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei would endorse the presidency of Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian at a ceremony held to commemorate the occasion. This was a ceremony that wasn’t scheduled to take place, but everything changed with the tragic helicopter crash of President Ebrahim Raisi on May the 19th that resulted in his martyrdom, along with the martyrdom of Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossain Amir-Abdollahian and six other people.
This was supposed to be the start of the last year of Ayatollah Raisi’s first four-year term, however it was not to be. Thus, this ceremony was now taking place.
The guests for the endorsement ceremony were high ranking government officials, family members of martyrs and other local as well as foreign dignitaries. I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to some of the women attending the ceremony and listened to their perspectives about what has taken place in the country during the last two months and their current expectations.
One professor, whom I spoke with, said the news of Ayatollah Raisi’s martyrdom had been very difficult. She said in actuality when the event happened, she was thinking how lucky he was. He lived well and died well. And because of the high status of martyrdom, she said Ayatollah Raisi really deserved to attain this position, but it was sad for the people.
She said that when Ayatollah Raisi stood in front of the United Nations General Assembly and held up the Quran and later held up a picture of Martyr Soleimani, these were beautiful messages to the world and to those countries who allow the Holy Book of Muslims to be burned and to those who called Lieutenant General Soleimani, a terrorist. It was a message expressing courage, independence and faith. And she says she hope the new president would continue in this line.
Next, I talked to a woman who is both a university professor, as well as a teacher at the Islamic Seminary in Qom. She said it was one of the worst nights of her life when she heard that the president’s helicopter was missing. She said she was so upset until Imam Khamenei’s speech that night when he reiterated that nothing would happen to the country and that our Revolution isn’t based on individuals and not to worry. She said his words made her calm and also gave her an incentive to go to work the next morning because she was crying and really didn’t feel like going, but because the Leader said everything must continue as usual, she wanted to do her part in ensuring that continuity.
She said the difference between President Raisi and other political leaders in the world is that his actions were based on Tawhid, a belief in one God. He worked nonstop in trying to solve the people’s problems. She said one thing has stood out for her during the last two months and that is the importance of the role of Wilayat-e Faqih. She said of course she already knew the importance of this position, but it was really proven again during this transition that the country was stable and peaceful after such a great loss and was able to hold two elections in a secure and calm environment.
Dr Sara Fallahian. an MP from Ilam and a member of the Parliamentary Security Committee was the next person I was able to talk to. She said that she was at home when she heard the news about the crash on the TV. She said she called the Security Committee and was told to come in immediately. She said everyone was upset and worried about the country, until the Leader spoke that night and said everything would be fine. She said it was like water being poured on fire. She added that we really have seen the strength of the Islamic Republic’s system. Dr. Fallahian said we have all witnessed the peace that we have had during this unexpected transition. Everything has run as usual and all threats repelled. She added that losing the Foreign Minister Hossain Amir-Abdollahian was also a big loss and she praised what she called his diplomacy intertwined with resistance.
She said she hopes the new president will continue to work to improve the economy while following the principles of the Islamic Republic. Also she said that it would be good if Dr. Pezeshkian would make greater use of women and minorities in the country and try to use everyone’s potential. She also said she hopes that President Pezeshkian would continue to improve relations with neighboring countries and improve the path of diplomacy with strength and respect.
I was able to talk to another parliamentarian from Nain, Elham Azad who talked about how she had been shocked when she first found out about the president’s accident. She said that though his martyrdom was painful for her and other people, after all that Dr. Raisi had done, it was his right to reach this ultimate level. She said she still can’t believe that he is gone and that we are here today after only three years, for another presidential endorsement ceremony. She said the last two months have been a unique time for the country and as always, the nation has been under scrutiny by the world and that she was proud of the way the country had performed during this time. Though there was an initial shock throughout the nation, the country continued to operate as usual and even held two elections and she considered this to be quite a feat with all the Islamic Republic’s enemies regularly trying to create crises in the country. She praised the Leader and his exceptional guidance.
And the last person I talked to was the wife of one of Iran’s nuclear scientists, Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, who was martyred by the Zionist regime. Mrs. Ahmadi Roshan or Fatima Boluri Kashani says thinking of the loss of President Raisi is still painful and she just tries not to think about it. She recalled the night of the crash and that she was helping her son Alireza with his chemistry lessons when her sister called her to turn on the television. When she heard about the hard landing of the helicopter, she said she had the same sinking feeling that she had had when her husband became a martyr. She said she immediately knew he had been martyred and she just started crying. And now after more than two months, she said she still feels like Ayatollah Raisi is with us. She said she believes that just as the Leader had said about Martyr General Soleimani that he will be more of a threat to enemies as a martyr than when he was alive, she thinks the same is true about Martyr Raisi.
She, like everyone I talked to, said she just wanted to reiterate the importance of the role of Wilayat-e Faqih. According to Mrs. Ahmadi Roshan, the people of Iran saw how smooth this transition has been and that it is because of the role of the Leader and his guidance during this tragedy.
Just as the Leader of the Revolution had guided the people through the last two months, it is the people’s hope that his guidance will help President Pezeshkian to have a successful presidency. The Leader prayed for President Pezeshkian’s success. He reminded everyone of the sacrifices which have been made to establish and sustain the Islamic Republic and he said he hopes that with hard work and by adhering to the straight path that the Islamic Republic will be the best nation that it can be.
(The above is Marzieh Hashemi's personal account of her participation in the endorsement ceremony of Iran's 9th President, which was held on July 28, 2024).
