Iran's Presidential Election: A Close Race
The presidential election in Iran is shaping up to be a tight contest between the moderate politician Massoud Peseschkian and the hardliner Said Jalili. Initial results show Peseschkian with approximately 5 million votes and Jalili close behind with 4.9 million. The incumbent parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf trails in third place with about 1.6 million votes. The fourth candidate, cleric Mostafa Purmohammadi, has garnered only around 95,000 votes.
High Stakes and Potential Runoff
With around 61 million voters called to elect a new head of government, polling stations remained open late into the evening due to several extensions by the Interior Ministry. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held on July 5. The Guardian Council, a powerful Islamic oversight body, had approved only six out of 80 candidates, with two subsequently withdrawing.
The election campaign has been dominated by discussions on overcoming Iran's severe economic crisis. The country is heavily sanctioned due to its controversial nuclear program and is largely isolated from the global financial system. The president's role, however, is limited as the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holds ultimate authority over strategic matters.
Observers suggest that a high voter turnout could benefit Peseschkian, especially if there is a runoff between him and a conservative candidate. Recent elections have seen low turnout, particularly among reformist supporters, who have been disillusioned by the political system. The election is also closely watched internationally due to Iran's significant geopolitical influence, from the Gaza conflict to its nuclear negotiations with Western countries.
- Iranians began voting early on Friday, with state media showing separate lines of men and women casting their ballots in mosques and schools decorated with national colors. The election was hastily organized following the death of President Ebrahim Raïssi in a helicopter crash on May 19.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who launched the voting operations, urged citizens to participate, calling it a day of joy and urging against hesitation. The official results are expected by Sunday, with estimates anticipated on Saturday. The only reform candidate, Massoud Peseschkian, has given hope to the marginalized reformist and moderate camps, while conservatives are divided between candidates Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Saïd Jalili.
- The debate over the compulsory wearing of the veil for women also surfaced during the campaign, nearly two years after the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread protests. Candidates distanced themselves from harsh police tactics against women defying the dress code, with Mustafa Pourmohammadi, the only religious candidate, condemning such cruelty.
