Iran’s presidential election results were announced on Saturday, July 6th, with reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian defeating the hardline conservative Said Jalili to become the next president of Iran.
In the second round of the presidential runoff held on July 5th, Pezeshkian secured over 16 million votes out of more than 30 million cast, winning the election. His opponent Jalili received over 13 million votes.
Originally scheduled for 2025, the Iranian presidential election was moved up following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May of this year.
In the first round of voting on June 28th, approximately 40% of eligible voters participated, marking the lowest turnout in a presidential election in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. With no candidate receiving a majority, Pezeshkian and Jalili advanced to the second round.
Pezeshkian, aged 69, is a cardiac surgeon who has been a member of parliament representing the Tabriz district since 2008. He garnered support from Iran’s main reformist alliance, with former reformist presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani endorsing his candidacy.
Despite Pezeshkian’s victory, opposition figures inside and outside Iran have called for a boycott of the election, viewing both the conservative and reformist camps as two sides of the same coin, as ultimate power in the country remains in the hands of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Over the past four years, the voter turnout in Iranian elections has sharply declined. Observers believe this reflects growing discontent among the populace due to economic hardships and increasing restrictions on political and social freedom, indicating a weakening of Iran’s religious authority.
Analysts expect President-elect Pezeshkian not to make significant policy shifts on Iran’s nuclear program or its support for armed groups in the Middle East. However, his leadership in managing government affairs could influence Iran’s foreign and domestic policies.
Pezeshkian’s victory may encourage Iran to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy, potentially breaking the deadlock in negotiations with Western democracies to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement and improving prospects for social liberalization and political pluralism.
Nevertheless, many voters remain skeptical of Pezeshkian’s ability to fulfill his campaign promises, especially given his previous remarks indicating a reluctance to challenge Iran’s religious establishment and security hardliners.
“I didn’t vote last week but today I voted for Pezeshkian,” said Afarin, the owner of a beauty salon in Isfahan, central Iran, in an interview with Reuters. “I know he might be a lame duck president, but he’s still better than the hardliners.”
The death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022 sparked national protests in Iran, followed by violent crackdowns by authorities, including mass arrests and executions. Many Iranians have painful memories of these events.
“Because of the Mahsa incident, I will not vote. I say ‘no’ to the Islamic Republic,” stated Sepideh, a student at Tehran University. “I want a free country, I want a free life.”
Hamidzadegan, a voter in Sari in the north, said, “I will vote for Jalili. He upholds Islamic values. He promises to end our economic hardships.”
Since last week, the hashtag “#ElectionCircus” has been widely circulated on the X social media platform, with activists inside and outside Iran urging a boycott of the election, believing a high voter turnout would legitimize the Islamic Republic.
Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iranian women and those advocating for fundamental changes in the current system have been barred from participating in the elections. Iran’s voting process itself lacks oversight from internationally recognized institutions.