Reformist politician Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election on Saturday, defeating conservative contender Saeed Jalili.
The election, originally scheduled for 2025, was advanced following the death of ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi.
Pezeshkian secured his victory by pledging to engage with the West and relax the enforcement of the country’s mandatory headscarf law, following years of sanctions and protests that have pressured the Islamic Republic.
Pezeshkian campaigned on maintaining Iran’s Shiite theocracy without introducing radical changes, affirming Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s authority over all state affairs.
However, achieving even his modest goals will be complicated by the predominance of hard-liners in government, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and Western concerns over Iran’s uranium enrichment nearing weapons-grade levels.
In Friday’s election, Pezeshkian emerged as the winner with 16.3 million votes, surpassing Jalili who garnered 13.5 million, according to official figures released by the authorities.
The Iran’s Interior Ministry reported a total of 30 million voters participated in the election, which took place without internationally recognized monitors.
Before dawn, supporters of Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and seasoned lawmaker, flooded the streets of Tehran and other cities in celebration as his lead over Jalili, a former hard-line nuclear negotiator.
“Dear people of Iran, the elections have concluded, marking just the beginning of our journey together,” Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X, which remains banned in Iran.
“The road ahead will be challenging, but with your support, empathy, and trust, we can overcome these challenges. I extend my hand to you and pledge on my honor that I will stand by your side. Let us move forward together, hand in hand.”
His victory comes at a critical juncture for Iran, amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Iran’s nuclear advancements, and an upcoming U.S. election that could jeopardize prospects for improved relations between Tehran and Washington.
Despite winning, his margin over Jalili was not overwhelming, indicating that he will need to navigate Iran’s internal politics carefully, especially since he lacks experience in sensitive, high-level security roles.
Jalili on the other hand graciously conceded defeat and urged his supporters to rally behind Pezeshkian, emphasizing the importance of respecting the elected leader’s mandate.
“The person who is elected by the people is respected, his respect should be maintained,… and now we should make all our efforts to help him move forward with strength,” Jalili said in remarks made Tuesday and posted Saturday on X.
While Pezeshkian’s victory marks a significant shift, ultimate policy decisions in Iran remain under the purview of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscoring the enduring influence of conservative factions in the country.
How the election unfolded
In the first round of voting on June 28, Iran witnessed its lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian authorities have traditionally regarded voter turnout as a gauge of public support for the country’s Shiite theocracy, which has confronted substantial challenges such as economic sanctions, widespread protests, and stringent measures against dissent.
Officials, up to Supreme Leader Khamenei, anticipated higher turnout as voting commenced, as state television aired images of modest lines at some polling centers.
Nevertheless, online videos allegedly showed some polling stations empty, while an assessment of several dozen sites in Tehran revealed minimal foot traffic despite a substantial security presence on the streets.
Officials recorded a turnout of 49.6% in Friday’s election, marking a historically low figure for an Iranian presidential vote.
Additionally, 607,575 ballots were voided, often interpreted as a protest by voters who feel obligated to participate but do not support either candidate.
“I don’t expect much from him. I am glad that the vote restrained the hard-liners,” said bank employee Fatemeh Babaei, who supported Pezeshkian.
“I hope Pezeshkian can lead the government towards a future where everyone feels hopeful.”
While handing out candy to passersby, Taher Khalili, an Iranian of Kurdish descent who operates a small tailor shop in Tehran, expressed another reason to be hopeful.
“I’m glad someone from my hometown in western Iran has come to power,” Khalili said. “I hope he improves the economy for small businesses.”
As the first president from western Iran in decades, Pezeshkian, fluent in Azeri, Farsi, and Kurdish, campaigned on uniting the country’s diverse ethnicities. Many anticipate his leadership will benefit Iran, considering the region’s reputation for ethnic and religious diversity and tolerance.
Against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, the election unfolded.
Impact on international relations
In April, Iran conducted its first-ever direct attack on Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
Simultaneously, Tehran-backed militia groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen increased their engagement in the conflict, intensifying their attacks.
Iran is also currently advancing uranium to near weapons-grade levels and maintains a stockpile that could potentially be used to build several nuclear weapons.
With Khamenei holding final decision-making power over state affairs, the election outcome could influence whether Iran pursues an adversarial or cooperative stance towards the West and Isreal.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who has recently improved relations with Iran, congratulated Pezeshkian, emphasising his commitment to enhancing bilateral relations between their two countries and peoples.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has utilised Iranian-made drones in Ukraine, also extended his congratulations to Pezeshkian.
The U.S. however did not immediately respond to Pezeshkian’s victory, even though his campaign frequently addressed potential outcomes if former President Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, were to win the November election.
Iran has engaged in indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, but there has been no evident progress towards reinstating restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
During the campaign, while aligning himself with reformists and relative moderates within Iran’s theocracy, Pezeshkian also showed respect for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. On one occasion, he wore its uniform to parliament.
He consistently criticised the United States and commended the Guard for shooting down an American drone in 2019, describing it as a significant message to the Americans that Iran would not capitulate.
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