Iran’s reformist presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, who advocates improved ties with the West, on Saturday won a runoff election against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the Iranian Ministry of Interior said.
A vote count offered by authorities put Pezeshkian as the winner with 16.3 million votes to Jalili’s 13.5 million in Friday’s election.
Overall, the ministry said 30 million people voted in an election held without internationally recognized monitors.
Photo: AFP
Authorities put the turnout at 49.6%, still historically low for an Iranian presidential election.
The election came against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions due to the Gaza war, a dispute with the West over Iran’s nuclear program, and domestic discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.
In his first comments after winning, Pezeshkian said the vote was the start of a “partnership” with the Iranian people.
“The difficult path ahead will not be smooth except with your companionship, empathy, and trust. I extend my hand to you,” Pezeshkian wrote on X.
On Tuesday he had said that, if he won, he would “extend the hand of friendship to everyone.”
The defeated Jalili called on his supporters to now back Pezeshkian.
“The person who is elected by the people is respected, his respect should be maintained,... and now we should make all our efforts to help him move forward with strength,” Jalili said in remarks made on Tuesday and posted on X yesterday.
An election was not due until next year, but was called early after the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
Four candidates ran in the first round held on June 28.
Regardless of the election winner, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all major policy issues.
Khamenei had called for a higher turnout in the runoff, and emphasized the election’s importance.
He said the first round turnout was lower than expected, but added that it was not an act “against the system.”
After more than 1 million ballots were spoiled in the first round, the figure in the runoff stood at more than 600,000, figures provided by Iranian Election Office spokesman Mohsen Eslami showed.
All candidates were approved by the Iranian Guardian Council, which vets contenders. Pezeshkian was the lone reformist allowed to stand.
Pezeshkian is a 69-year-old heart surgeon whose only previous government experience came as health minister about two decades ago.
He has called for “constructive relations” with Western countries to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers to “get Iran out of its isolation.”
Additional reporting by AP
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