Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian is now president of Iran

In a significant political development, Masoud Pezeshkian has emerged victorious in the Iranian presidential election, defeating his conservative opponent Saeed Jalili.

Dr. Pezeshkian emerged as the vote winner, garnering 53.3% of the total votes, which amounted to over 30 million.

According to the latest poll, Mr. Jalili received a support of 44.3%.

The run-off occurred as no candidate managed to secure a majority in the initial round of the election on 28 June.

The election witnessed a historically low voter turnout of 40%.

In May, a tragic helicopter crash claimed the life of Iran's former president Ebrahim Raisi, along with seven others. As a result, an election was called to fill the vacant position.

As Iran's interior ministry declared the final results, supporters of Dr. Pezeshkian flooded the streets of Tehran and several other cities, jubilantly celebrating their candidate's success.

Footage shared on various social media platforms depicted a lively scene, with predominantly youthful individuals joyfully dancing and enthusiastically brandishing the distinctive green flag associated with his campaign. The cacophony of car horns added to the festive atmosphere.

Dr. Pezeshkian, a 71-year-old heart surgeon and member of the Iranian parliament, has expressed strong criticism of Iran's notorious morality police.

His recent statements promising "unity and cohesion" and an end to Iran's "isolation" from the world have caused quite a stir.

In addition, he has expressed the need for "constructive negotiations" with Western powers regarding the renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal. The agreement saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting Western sanctions.

On the other hand, Saeed Jalili prefers to maintain the current state of affairs. Iran's most religious communities strongly support the former nuclear negotiator.

Mr. Jalili is widely recognized for his staunchly anti-Western position and unwavering opposition to the reinstatement of the nuclear deal. He asserts that the agreement violated Iran's non-negotiable "red lines."

The turnout in the most recent round of voting reached 50%, surpassing the previous week's first round, which had the lowest turnout since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Despite this increase, the overall turnout remains significantly low, reflecting widespread discontent among the population.

Millions of people chose to boycott the elections due to widespread discontent.

The frustration stems from the limited options in candidates, the overwhelming influence of Islamic hardliners, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of the supreme leader's tight grip on policies.

Several individuals who abstained from voting in the initial round were convinced to participate in the election, this time to prevent Mr. Jalili from assuming the presidency. Dr. Pezeshkian emerged as the preferred candidate for these voters.

Concerns were raised about the potential consequences of his victory, with worries that it could lead to increased tensions between Iran and other nations.

There were also fears that his leadership could result in additional sanctions and a deepening of Iran's isolation.

Both candidates had to successfully navigate a rigorous vetting process by the Guardian Council, a robust body of 12 influential clerics and jurists in Iran.

During the process, a total of 74 other candidates were eliminated from the race, which also included several women.

Human rights groups have previously criticized the Guardian Council for disqualifying candidates who do not demonstrate sufficient loyalty to the regime.

Following years of civil unrest, including widespread anti-regime protests in 2022-23, a significant number of young and middle-class Iranians harbor a profound distrust towards the establishment, leading them to abstain from voting in the past.

A hashtag on Iranian social media, "traitorous minority," gained significant traction, with users urging others to refrain from voting for any of the candidates and labeling those who did as "traitors."

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed claims that the low turnout signifies a rejection of his leadership.

"Various factors contribute to the low turnout, which politicians and sociologists will thoroughly analyze. However, it would be incorrect to assume that those who did not vote are necessarily opposed to the establishment," he stated.

It is noteworthy that he has acknowledged the existence of Iranians who do not support the current regime. "We pay close attention to their words, and they are not being kept secret or hidden," stated Mr. Khamenei.