Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s reasoning for not appointing any female ministers to his Cabinet — as he had promised he would in the May presidential election — has prompted a backlash from his supporters.
On Aug. 15, the moderate Rouhani defended his proposed list of ministers to members of parliament and tried to persuade them to vote in favor of his Cabinet. “I will tell all the ministers in the 12th [incumbent] government to appoint young people and women for high-level positions,” Rouhani said, adding, “I was really eager to at least have three female ministers … but it didn’t happen.” He did not explain why it did not happen.
