Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran’s presidential runoff election, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili.
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has called for "cooperation, empathy and trust" after being declared the winner of Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday. The win for reformists is a turn from the hardline presidency of Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May.
Pezeshkian bested hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.
“Dear people of Iran, the election is over, and this is just the beginning of our working together. A difficult road is ahead. It can only be smooth with your cooperation, empathy and trust,” he posted on X.
Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, says the election represents a "moment of hope" for Iran's reformists.
"Pezeshkian’s message of hope and change resonated with millions of Iranians who had previously showed political apathy by not casting their votes," Gerges said. "This shows the thirst for social and political change in Iran."
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