Polls opened on Friday in Iran for the run-off presidential election, as none of the four candidates managed to secure over 50% of the votes in the first round on June 28.
Masoud Pezeshkian won 16.3 million votes against hard-liner Saeed Jalili’s 13.5 million, securing victory in Friday’s runoff election.
Pezeshkian, aligning himself with moderate and reformist figures, campaigned to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line protégé of Khamenei who died in a helicopter crash in May. His main supporter has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, known for negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal that lifted sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran’s atomic program.
He has expressed a desire for better relations with the West, a return to the nuclear accord, and reduced enforcement of the hijab law.
A former participant in the Iran-Iraq war, Pezeshkian served by sending medical teams to the front lines. He later became a heart surgeon and led the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Pezeshkian's political career began as the deputy health minister, later becoming health minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami.
In 2006, he was elected as a lawmaker representing Tabriz and subsequently served as a deputy parliament speaker, supporting reformist and moderate causes. Analysts often described him as an “independent,” a label he embraced during his campaign.
In 2021, Pezeshkian and other prominent candidates were barred from running, which allowed an easy win for Raisi. During this campaign, Pezeshkian’s supporters contrasted him with the “Taliban” policies of Jalili.
This election saw the lowest turnout in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic, with official statistics reporting only 40% of eligible voters casting their ballots. Analysts believe the real turnout was much lower, a disappointing outcome for a regime that often touts high voter participation to bolster its legitimacy.
Despite being a reformist candidate, Pezeshkian has joined activists and former political prisoners in calling for a boycott, arguing that neither party offers meaningful change. His controversial remarks, including a reference to execution in a TV debate, have drawn criticism even from his supporters, although he later posted the comment on his X account.
Pezeshkian’s supporters had argued that a Jalili victory would extinguish any hope for political changes that could improve people's lives.
The snap election was called following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. According to the country’s constitution, a new president must be elected within 50 days of a president's death.
This article has been updated.
