Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, has been elected as Iran’s new president, defeating his hardline conservative rival, Saeed Jalili. Pezeshkian secured 53.7 percent of the votes, amounting to 16.3 million out of over 30 million cast. Jalili received 44.3 percent, or 13.5 million votes.
The voter turnout for this election was 49.8 percent. The race was closely contested between Pezeshkian, the only moderate candidate, who has vowed to open Iran to the world, and Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator and strong advocate of strengthening Iran’s ties with Russia and China.
This run-off election followed a June 28 ballot that saw historically low turnout, with more than 60 percent of voters abstaining from voting after the snap election was called following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
In the June election, Pezeshkian received about 42.5 percent of the votes, while Jalili garnered around 38.7 percent. Only 40 percent of the 61 million eligible voters participated, marking the lowest turnout in a presidential election since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Al Jazeera reported that nearly 50 percent of Iranians chose not to vote, as many did not believe the election would bring significant change, regardless of whether a conservative or reformist won. Some voters boycotted the election as a form of silent protest.
Pezeshkian, Iran’s ninth elected president, will need to be officially endorsed in a ceremony by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before being sworn in at the parliament.
Who is Pezeshkian?
Born on September 29, 1954, in Mahabad, northwestern Iran, to an Azeri father and Kurdish mother, Masoud Pezeshkian is a cardiac surgeon and former health minister. He served during the Iran-Iraq war, dispatching medical teams to the front lines.
Pezeshkian ran for president twice before, in 2013 and 2021, without success. After a tragic car accident in 1994 claimed the lives of his wife and daughter, he raised his three remaining children alone.
The reformist camp, led by former President Mohammad Khatami, endorsed Pezeshkian following Raisi’s death. Pezeshkian, fluent in Azeri, Farsi, and Kurdish, is the first president from western Iran in decades. His presidency is seen as a beacon of hope for a more tolerant regime, given the region’s significant religious and ethnic diversity.
“My supporters come from all sides, even those who do not pray,” he said during a recent presidential debate, although this stance has made him a target for xenophobic attacks by some opponents.
In 2022, Pezeshkian called for authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody following her arrest for allegedly violating a law on women’s dress, sparking months of nationwide unrest.
While Pezeshkian acknowledges Iran’s Shiite theocracy and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s ultimate authority on state matters, he has assured no radical changes.
Under Iran’s dual system of clerical and republican rule, the president cannot make major policy changes on nuclear issues or militia support, as Khamenei holds significant power over state affairs. However, the president can greatly influence Iran’s policy direction and will play a crucial role in selecting Khamenei’s successor, who is currently 85 years old.
During a time of heightened tensions with Israel and Western allies, compounded by nuclear advancements and upcoming US elections, Pezeshkian’s leadership promises continuity.
“To the people of Iran, the elections are over and our collaboration begins,” Pezeshkian wrote on the banned social platform X. “The challenging road ahead demands your support, empathy, and trust. I extend my hand to you and pledge to stand by your side every step of the way.”
Pezeshkian’s leadership guarantees consistency in the face of rising tensions with Israel and Western allies, as well as nuclear progress and forthcoming US elections.
“To the people of Iran, the elections are over, and our collaboration begins,” Pezeshkian said on the banned social media platform X. “The difficult road ahead need your support, understanding, and trust. I extend my hand to you, promising to be by your side every step of the road.”
