On Saturday, moderate candidate Masoud Pezeshkian called on Iranians to support him on “the difficult road ahead” after defeating a hardline rival in Iran’s presidential election.
Friday’s run-off vote featured Pezeshkian, the only moderate among the original four candidates, against the hardline former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old cardiac surgeon, has promised to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over stalled negotiations with major powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, and improve prospects for social liberalization and political pluralism.
However, many Iranians doubt his ability to fulfill these promises as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic.
“Dear people of Iran, the election is over, and this is just the beginning of our work together. A difficult road lies ahead. It can only be made smooth with your cooperation, empathy, and trust,” Pezeshkian said on social media platform X.
“I extend my hand to you and swear on my honor that I will not abandon you on this path. Do not abandon me.”
Friday’s vote saw nearly 50 percent turnout, following a historically low turnout in the first round on June 28, when over 60 percent of voters abstained. The election was called after President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in May.
Pezeshkian won support from a constituency believed to be primarily the urban middle class and youth, disillusioned by years of security crackdowns that stifled public dissent from Islamist orthodoxy.
Videos on social media showed his supporters celebrating in the streets of many cities and towns, with motorists honking car horns in cheer.
President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the newly elected Iranian president on X, saying, “Pakistan and Iran enjoy fraternal ties & I hope that under your leadership our relations will grow further stronger.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated Pezeshkian, stating, “As neighboring countries, Pakistan & Iran enjoy a close & historic relationship. We must ensure a bright future for our two peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Foreign Policy
Pezeshkian’s victory has raised hopes for a thaw in Iran’s relations with the West, potentially opening avenues to defuse the nuclear dispute with world powers.
The election coincided with escalating regional tensions, including conflicts between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure on Iran over its advancing nuclear program.
Under Iran’s dual system of clerical and republican rule, the president cannot initiate major policy changes on Iran’s nuclear program or support for militia groups across the Middle East, as Khamenei holds authority over top state matters.
However, the president can influence the tone of Iran’s policy and will play a significant role in selecting Khamenei’s successor, who is now 85.
Supported by Iran’s reformist camp led by former President Mohammad Khatami, Pezeshkian remains loyal to Iran’s theocratic rule and has no plans to confront the powerful security hawks and clerical leaders.
