Following the unexpected death of former President Ibrahim Raisi, Iran found itself in a state of urgency, leading to the necessity of an emergency presidential election.
Masoud Pezeshkian, widely recognised as a moderate figure, emerged victorious with the highest percentage of votes in the election conducted for the constitutional appointment of a new president. As a result, he assumed office as the 9th President of Iran.
Jalili was defeated, and he was in awe of the spiritual leader
An emergency presidential election was held before the scheduled June 2025 election date. Saeed Jalili, known for having the favour of Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Al Khamenei, was unable to secure a victory.
The initial election, held on May 28, did not yield a candidate with more than 50 per cent of the vote, resulting in a second round of voting.
After the recent poll, 71-year-old specialist doctor and moderate candidate Masoud Pezeshkian emerged as the winner, obtaining 16.5 million votes, which accounted for 53.3 per cent of the total votes cast.
Sayed Jalili received 44.3 per cent of the vote. Dr Pezeshkian’s victory was declared after more than 30 million votes were counted.
Masoud Pezeshkian, who proposed a change, emerged as the winner
Saeed Jalili, recognised as a staunch Islamic ideologue and supported by Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Al Khamenei, secured 13.5 million votes.
This profound outcome has caught international commentators’ attention, suggesting that it signifies a divergence between the people’s and the spiritual leader’s views.
Masoud Pezeshkian, who previously served as the Iranian Minister of Health and was elected to the Iranian Parliament in 2008, representing the city of Tabriz, has articulated his commitment to lifting Iran’s economic sanctions and fostering open relations with the international community through economic development.
In addition to his economic agenda, Pezeshkian has been vocal in his criticism of various political policies in Iran.
He has promised to tackle gender inequality and advocate for equal rights while also speaking out against the mandatory hijab law imposed on Iranian women.
The electorate responded to his democratic pledges, contributing to his electoral success.
How will Iran’s future regime be?
Before the final results were announced by Iran’s Interior Ministry, Dr. Pezeshkian ‘s supporters flooded the streets of Tehran and other cities, celebrating his anticipated victory.
The youthful crowd danced in jubilation, symbolising their hope for sweeping social change in a country where they have felt confined.
Dr Peszeshkian, a former heart surgeon, has emerged as a vocal critic of Iran’s morality police, known for advocating positive and democratic solutions for issues such as unity, coexistence, and Iran’s international isolation.
His message has particularly resonated with the youth, causing a stir and unease among the existing power structures.
There are concerns about potential friction between Dr Peszeshkian’s proposed reforms and Iran’s entrenched leadership, potentially leading to a clash between the spiritual leader and the ruling class.
The future of the controversial nuclear program
Iran is required to take specific measures to alleviate Western sanctions, with one critical step being the reduction of its nuclear program.
Dr Peszeshkian has become a vocal proponent for effective negotiations with Western powers to renew the 2015 nuclear deal. On the other hand, his opponent, Saeed Jalili, has steadfastly advocated for maintaining the country’s current position.
Despite Jalili’s prior involvement in discussions on Iran’s nuclear program and his success in securing the support of Iran’s religious leaders, his strong anti-Western stance and opposition to renewing the atomic deal ultimately led to his defeat.
The opinion of Iranians
The recent election in Iran reflected a widespread desire for change in its traditional politics, particularly regarding its approach to education and its position in the global community.
This sentiment was evident as many people, unhappy with the current political situation, chose to boycott the polls.
Among those who did vote, there was a clear shift towards a candidate advocating new ideas, resulting in the rejection of hard-line Islamic candidates.
Furthermore, in the second round of voting, many individuals who had abstained from the first round were motivated to support Dr Peszeshkian to prevent Jalili from assuming the presidency.
Their goal was to forestall a scenario in which Iran would become more isolated from the international community. In this context, it was widely anticipated that the candidate with a more democratic-leaning platform would emerge victorious in the second round.
Iranian society is evidently motivated by the need to navigate a path out of potential isolation and respond to external pressures, such as additional sanctions.
Dr Pesheshkian’s triumph in the second round can be attributed to most people participating in the election, signalling a collective desire to avoid isolation and re-engage with the global community.
The expectation of the youth community
It was evident that Saeed Jalili, a candidate supported by the regime, garnered significant support from the country’s religious communities.
This was noteworthy as many young and middle-class Iranians, who had previously distrusted the regime, chose not to participate in the voting process.
As for Dr Peszeshkian, the election winner now faces a formidable challenge. Given the influence of the spiritual leader, it will be a significant concern for him to practically fulfil the pledges he made.
The role of the spiritual leader is a crucial factor in the decision-making process for the President, presenting a unique scenario in Iranian politics.
It remains to be seen how Dr Peszeshkian will navigate this situation to uphold his policies and promises as the President. This will require careful observation and evaluation over time.
