TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday praised the role of women in shaping the country’s future, telling a gathering in Tehran that women are central to the moral and social development of families and society.
Speaking at a ceremony marking Women’s Day and Mother’s Day, Pezeshkian said he was “heartfully pleased” to attend the event and underscored what he described as the irreplaceable influence of women as mothers, spouses and community members.
Pezeshkian said women hold a status “higher than anything else” and stated that their impact on “the mindset, upbringing and emotional development” of children and husbands helps determine the direction of society. 
“I believe it is women who shape men,” he said, adding that women’s ability to guide and correct family behaviour could influence the country’s path for generations.
He criticized efforts to diminish women’s roles, calling such views “blind” to women’s capabilities. According to Pezeshkian, women possess qualities of “growth, progress and development” that empower them to achieve prominent standing in public and private spheres. 
He emphasized Islamic teachings that value individuals based on good deeds, saying both women and men can contribute equally through knowledge and competence.
Reflecting on his personal upbringing, Pezeshkian credited his late mother for instilling principles of honesty and moral discipline. He recalled returning a found item as a child after his mother warned him that keeping it would be “forbidden,” saying such lessons shaped his character. He also spoke about supporting his mother during her terminal illness, saying it was “against fairness” to overlook the sacrifices of mothers and spouses.
Pezeshkian noted that during his student years, he and his late wife studied alongside each other while raising four children. Despite the challenges, he placed second in his medical board exams and his wife ranked first. He said they faced claims that women were unable to pursue demanding careers such as surgery but “stood up to those views,” reiterating his belief that “women build men.”
He described universities as central to forming young people who can transform the country and expressed hope that Iranian women would become models for youth and for women across the region.
Zahra Behrouz Azar, the vice president for women and family affairs, also addressed the ceremony. She said women are “the essence of life” and noted that Islamic teachings consider women and men equal partners in advancing society. She said the country “owes much” to women who served or were killed during years of conflict.
Behrouz Azar said the current government has expanded opportunities for women, adding it has set records for female appointments. According to her, the administration now includes one female minister, four women in cabinet-level positions, 25 deputy ministers, 65 organizational heads, 28 governors, 78 district chiefs and 16 female mayors and village heads. She added that the interior minister’s first appointment was issued to a Sunni woman.
During the “Roshana-ye Mehr” ceremony, eight women were honored, and the ministries of interior, roads and urban development, and labor were recognized for their initiatives. Several female officials, including Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, were also commended.