In a decisive turn of events, reformist candidate Masoud Pazkhian has emerged victorious in the Iranian presidential election, defeating radical contender Saeed Jalili. According to official reports, Pazkhian garnered 16.3 million votes, outpacing Jalili by approximately three million votes. This victory came after a second round of elections, as no candidate secured more than half of the votes in the initial round. The voter turnout was notably higher in the second round, reaching 49.8%, a 10% increase from the first round held last week.
Pazkhian, who previously served as Iran's Minister of Health, is known for his stance on improving relations with the West and easing the enforcement of religious laws. His victory signals a potential shift towards a more pragmatic foreign policy, including the renewal of nuclear talks with Western nations. Despite his reformist agenda, Pazkhian has publicly stated that he does not intend to confront the hawkish elements within the Revolutionary Guards and the ruling clerics.
The election took place against the backdrop of widespread protests following the death of a young Kurdish woman in the custody of the Moral Police. These protests, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of imprisonments, highlighted the public's discontent with the forceful enforcement of religious laws, particularly the mandatory hijab for women. Pazkhian has made it clear that he opposes such forceful measures.
Pazkhian's victory has garnered support from both the reformist camp and segments of the conservative camp. During his tenure, he may play a significant role in the selection of a successor to the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Khamenei. One of the potential candidates for this position is Raisi. Like his opponent, Pazkhian has also pledged to address Iran's economic challenges, which include mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions reimposed following the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018.
The election was necessitated by the death of the previous president, Raisi, in a helicopter crash about a month ago. The initial round of elections saw a record low voter turnout, with less than 40% of eligible voters participating—a reflection of widespread apathy and skepticism among the Iranian populace, particularly the youth, who doubt the impact of their votes given the Supreme Leader's ultimate authority over critical issues.
- Massoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected president, will be the ninth leader of the Islamic Republic. According to the Iranian state elections headquarters, Pezeshkian secured 16,384,403 votes against Saeed Jalili's 13,538,179. The elections were held across approximately 58,000 seats in Iran and 314 seats in over 100 foreign countries. A total of 30,530,157 (49.8%) of the 61,452,321 eligible voters participated in the presidential ballot, as reported by Tehran authorities.
