In his first address as the registration process for Iran’s presidential election kicked off, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei outlined desirable traits of the next administration in Iran.

In the televised address, Khamenei clarified previous remarks he had made about the next administration being “young.” He said that he did not mean a Cabinet made up of people in their low- to mid-30s and that it was important to learn from individuals who have more experience. He said that in each Cabinet, there are hundreds of managerial positions that could utilize “revolutionary and pious youth.”

Khamenei’s recognition of the need to bring in a younger generation of administrative staff working under more experienced ministers is in line with his Second Step of the Revolution, which is based on a statement made in 2019. The presidential Cabinet oversees a sprawling bureaucracy and installing younger individuals who are committed to the revolutionary ideals would create a new managerial class in the country.

In his speech, Khamenei acknowledged that “transformation is necessary” in the country. He said he understands that the current managerial elite in the country is likely unwilling or even unable to create such a transformation in the country, especially when it comes to rooting out corruption, which is one of the issues that Khamenei wants addressed in  the next administration.