TEHRAN: Iran’s reformist candidate Dr Masoud Pezesh­kian won a runoff presidential election against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, on Saturday.

Dr Pezeshkian received more than 16 million votes, around 54 per cent, and Jalili more than 13m, roughly 44pc, out of about 30m votes cast, electoral authority spokesman Mohsen Eslami said, adding that voter turnout stood at 49.8pc.

Dr Pezeshkian thanked his supporters who came to vote “with love and to help” the country.

“We will extend the hand of friendship to everyone; we are all people of this country; we should use everyone for the progress of the country,” he said on state television.

President-elect Pezeshkian calls for better ties with West for revival of N-deal

The election, called early after the death of president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, followed a first round marked by a historically low turnout last week. However, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasising the importance of the election said the first round turnout was lower than expected.

The ballot comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war, a dispute with the West over Iran’s nuclear programme, and domestic discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.

In last week’s first round, Dr Pezeshkian, who was the only reformist allowed to stand, won the largest number of votes, around 42pc, while Jalili came second with around 39pc, according to figures from Iran’s elections authority.

The candidacy of Dr Peze­s­h­kian, a relative unknown until recently, has raised the hopes of Iran’s reformists after years of dominance by the conservative and ultraconservative camps. Iran’s main reformist coalition supported him, with endorsements by former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, a moderate.

The 69-year-old heart surgeon has called for “constructive relations” with Western countries to revive the nuclear deal in order to “get Iran out of its isolation”.

The United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018, re-imposing sanctions and leading Iran to gradually reduce commitment to its terms. The deal aimed to curb nuclear activity that Tehran maintains is for peaceful purposes.

Jalili, 58, is Iran’s former nuclear negotiator who is widely recognised for his uncompromising anti-West stance. During his campaign, he rallied a substantial base of hardline supporters and received backing from other conservative figures.

Ahead of Friday’s runoff, Dr Pezeshkian and Jalili took part in two televised debates during which they discussed the low turnout, as well as Iran’s economic woes, international relations and internet restrictions.

Dr Pezeshkian vowed to ease longstanding internet restrictions and to “fully” oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf for women.

While congratulating Dr Pezeshkian, Ayatollah Khamenei urged him to “continue the path of Martyr Raisi and use the country’s many capacities, especially the revolutionary and faithful youth, for the comfort of the people and the progress of the country”.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024