Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian gestures during a gathering with his supporters at the shrine of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in south of Tehran, Iran July 6, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Iran’s president-elect, moderate Masoud Pezeshkian, represents the hopes of millions of Iranians desiring fewer restrictions on social freedoms and a more pragmatic foreign policy. Pezeshkian, who defeated hardline candidate Saeed Jalili in Friday’s runoff presidential election, is seen as a favorable choice by world powers, who hope he will adopt peaceful approaches to resolve the tense standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.Pezeshkian’s victory is attributed to the support of an urban middle-class and young constituency, disillusioned by years of stringent security measures that suppressed public dissent against Islamist orthodoxy. The 69-year-old cardiac surgeon has committed to promoting a pragmatic foreign policy, easing tensions in the stalled negotiations with major powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, and enhancing prospects for social liberalization and political pluralism.While Iran’s dual system of clerical and republican rule means that the president cannot make significant changes to Iran’s nuclear program or its support for militia groups across the Middle East—since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds ultimate authority—the president can influence the tone of Iran’s policies and play a role in selecting Khamenei’s successor, who is currently 85.Pezeshkian has pledged allegiance to Iran’s theocratic rule and has stated he will not oppose Khamenei’s policies. In his campaign, he promised to resign from political work if he fails to fulfill his promises, emphasizing his dedication to serving the Iranian people.The reformist camp, led by former President Mohammad Khatami, resurfaced to endorse Pezeshkian after the death of hardline President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Pezeshkian’s perspectives differ significantly from those of Raisi, who had enforced strict dress codes for women and taken a hardline stance in the now-stalled nuclear negotiations.Pezeshkian aims to revitalize Iran’s struggling economy, which suffers from mismanagement, state corruption, and U.S. sanctions. However, many Iranians remain skeptical of his ability to enact significant changes due to the overarching power of Khamenei and his allies. For instance, Sohrab Hosseini, a 45-year-old businessman from Iran’s Kish Island, expressed doubt about Pezeshkian’s potential impact, viewing his vote as a preventive measure against Jalili rather than an endorsement of Pezeshkian’s ability to effect change.As a lawmaker since 2008, Pezeshkian, an Azeri who advocates for the rights of ethnic minorities, has openly criticized the clerical establishment’s suppression of political and social dissent. Notably, in 2022, he demanded transparency regarding the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating dress code laws, an incident that sparked widespread unrest.Pezeshkian’s personal history includes serving as a combatant and physician during the Iran-Iraq war, and his tenure as health minister from 2001-2005 during Khatami’s second term. He has also faced personal tragedy, losing his wife and one of his children in a car accident in 1994, after which he raised his surviving children alone and chose not to remarry.
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