On July 6, Massoud Pezeshkian was elected President of Iran, marking a victory for the reformist camp over the ultraconservative Saïd Jalili. The election comes against a backdrop of popular discontent and economic crisis. For its part, the international community is watching closely, hoping for changes in Iran’s relations with the West.
The reformist Massoud Pezeshkian was elected President of Iran in the second round of the presidential election, according to official results announced on Saturday July 6 by the Ministry of the Interior.
The MP from the Iranian city of Tabriz won over 16 million votes against 13 million for his opponent, the ultraconservative Saïd Jalili, out of a total of 30 million votes counted. The turnout was 49. 8%, indicating a moderate voter turnout.
The presidential election was organized quickly after the death of ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raissi in a helicopter accident on May 19. The election took place against a backdrop of popular discontent, largely due to an economy hit by international sanctions.
In his first statement after announcing his victory, Massoud Pezeshkian extended “the hand of friendship to everyone” and stressed the importance of collaboration for the country’s progress.
“We will extend the hand of friendship to everyone, we are all inhabitants of this country, we should use everyone for the progress of the country,” he declared.
The election was followed with great attention abroad due to the geopolitical crises involving Iran, notably the war in Gaza and the nuclear issue. Iran, a key player in the Middle East, frequently opposes Western countries, particularly the United States, its sworn enemy.
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Featured photo : © Sipa/Pacific Press/Sobhan Farajvan
