Iran Elects New President: Masoud Pezeshkian Wins the Runoff Election
Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, has emerged victorious in the second round of Iran’s presidential election, succeeding the late President Ebrahim Raisi.
On July 6th, Iranian election spokesperson Mohsen Eslami confirmed that Pezeshkian secured 16 million votes out of the 30 million cast in the presidential election. His opponent, hardliner Saeed Jalili, garnered 13 million votes.
The voter turnout for the second round of the presidential election was 49.8%, with more than 600,000 ballots deemed invalid. Following the announcement of the results, the 69-year-old President-elect Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to supporters who voted “with love and the desire to help the nation.”
“We will embrace everyone; we are all citizens of Iran. Together, we will strive for the progress of our country,” Pezeshkian declared in a speech broadcast on state television. His supporters took to the streets to celebrate, dancing and honking car horns in jubilation. In Urmia, Pezeshkian’s hometown in the northwest, locals handed out sweets on the streets to mark the new President’s victory.
A former heart surgeon, Pezeshkian advocates for “constructive” relations with Western countries to revive the nuclear deal and “lift Iran out of isolation.”
Pezeshkian’s victory has sparked hope among reformists. He received endorsements from former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, both known for their moderate stances.
The presidential election was held earlier than scheduled following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Iranian authorities have confirmed the crash as a “technical accident.”
