New Delhi: Reformist candidate and cardiac surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian has won the Iranian presidential election Saturday, after defeating the ultraconservative, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
Pezeshkian won close to 16.4 million votes out of the 30.5 million cast, while Jalili was able to only receive 13.5 million ballots, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the official news agency of Iran. The snap election was called after the death of the incumbent Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash earlier in May.
The victory of Pezeshkian, 69, is a boost to the reformist faction in Iranian politics, which has been sidelined in recent years in the political system of Tehran. The total turnout for Friday’s runoff election was close to 50 percent, which is about 10 percentage points higher than the first round of elections held in late June.
“I kiss the hands of all those who were passionate and intelligent, tireless and determined, in my election headquarters with minimal facilities and in compliance with principles and ethics, and I know that the people are also grateful for your unreserved efforts,” said the President-elect in a post on X (formerly Twitter), after the results were announced.
دست همه کسانی که پرشور و شعور، خستگی ناپذیر و مصمم، در ستادهای انتخاباتی من با کمترین امکانات و با رعایت اصول و اخلاق سنگِ تمام گذاشتند می‌بوسم و می‌دانم که مردم نیز سپاسگزار تلاش‌های بی دریغ و بی‌منت شما هستند. به ویژه قدردان جوانان غیرتمند و توانمندی هستم که عاشقانه و خالصانه…
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) July 6, 2024
Pezeshkian was a former Health Minister during President Mohammad Khatami’s second tenure (2001-2005) and has been a four-term lawmaker since 2008. He is of Azeri ethnicity from the Northwest of Iran.
His victory was acknowledged by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who urged Pezeshkian to “trust in God and in continuation of the path of Martyr Raisi.”
I would like to recommend Dr. Pezeshkian, the elected president, set his vision on high, bright horizons. In following the path of Martyr Raisi, I encourage him to make the best use of the abundant capacities of the country for the progress of the country.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) July 6, 2024
While congratulatory messages have poured in from various international leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the next few years for the new Iranian President will not be particularly smooth sailing.
PM Modi said he was looking forward to working closely for further strengthening long-standing bilateral ties for the benefit of our peoples and the region.
Congratulations @drpezeshkian on your election as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2024
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Domestic difficulties in Iran
Pezeshkian comes to power in a country that has seen waves of protests, a crackdown on internal dissent, a crippled economy, and tensions in West Asia due to the Israel – Hamas war and the role of proxies supported by Tehran.
In 2022, protests erupted across Iran in the aftermath of the death of 22-year old Mahsa Amini, who was taken into custody by the “morality” police, for allegedly violating the strict dress codes in place for women.
The Raisi government aggressively dealt with the protests, including strengthening the strict social controls and ensuring that protestors were sentenced to death, according to media reports.
At the time, Pezeshkian demanded a clarification on the death of Amini. The domestic difficulties have seen the President-elect during the election campaign promise a slightly more moderate approach to such laws, without shaking the pillars of the clerical system.
“We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behaviour toward women,” is what Pezeshkian is reported to have said after casting his vote during the first-round.
The resulting lack of faith in the political system of Iran was seen, with only 40 percent of eligible voters turning out to vote during the first round of the 2024 presidential election. It was the lowest turnout since the inception of the modern Iranian political system since 1979.
Similarly, Pezeshkian has to deal with an economy that has been continuously crippled by sanctions for its nuclear programme. During his campaign, Pezeshkian supported limited engagement with the US over lifting sanctions on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
In 2015, under Hassan Rouhani, Tehran had agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the EU and the US. However, former US President Donald J. Trump withdrew from the pact in 2018 and instituted stricter sanctions against Tehran.
Pezeshkian may have to deal with another Trump presidency, given that the latter is the candidate for the Republican Party in elections scheduled for later this year.
Delicate moment in global politics
Tehran in this year alone has almost come to a situation of open warfare with the US and Israel. After the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, various outfits supported by Tehran, including the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, have targeted Tel Aviv.
In April, Israel launched an attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria, killing two senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In retaliation, Tehran launched missiles directly at Israel for the first time in its history.
The direct attack on Israel saw a coalition of countries including the US and Jordan helping Tel Aviv shoot down the missiles and prevent casualties. While further escalation was prevented, the situation, however, indicates the broader geopolitical situation Pezeshkian will have to engage with.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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