Massoud Pezeshkian Elected as Iran’s New President

TEHRAN: In a significant political shift, reformist Massoud Pezeshkian has been elected as Iran’s new president, narrowly defeating his hardline conservative opponent, Saeed Jalili.

Dr. Pezeshkian secured 53.3% of the more than 30 million votes cast, while Mr. Jalili garnered 44.3%. The decisive run-off followed a first round on June 28, which saw a historically low voter turnout of 40%.

This election was called in the wake of the tragic death of Iran’s previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, who perished in a helicopter crash in May, along with seven others.

Social media footage captured street celebrations in Tehran and several other cities, where predominantly young supporters of Dr. Pezeshkian danced, waved green campaign flags, and celebrated with honking cars.

Dr. Pezeshkian, a former heart surgeon, has been a vocal critic of Iran’s notorious morality police. He has stirred hope with promises of “unity and cohesion” and a commitment to ending Iran’s international isolation. He has also advocated for “constructive negotiations” with Western powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing Western sanctions.

In contrast, Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, has strong backing from Iran’s religious communities. He is known for his hardline anti-Western stance and firm opposition to restoring the nuclear deal, which he believes compromises Iran’s core values.

Initial reports indicated a higher voter turnout in the run-off compared to the first round, the lowest since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Many who abstained in the first round were motivated to vote for Dr. Pezeshkian to prevent a Jalili presidency, fearing it would lead to greater international isolation and increased sanctions.

Both candidates underwent a rigorous vetting process by the Guardian Council, a powerful body of 12 clerics and jurists, which disqualified 74 other candidates, including several women. The council has faced criticism from human rights groups for excluding candidates not sufficiently loyal to the regime.