Reformist Pezeshkian wins Iranian presidential election

TEHRAN: Iran’s reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday won a runoff presidential election against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the interior ministry said.

Pezeshkian received more than 16 million votes and Jalili more than 13 million out of about 30 million votes cast, electoral authority spokesman Mohsen Eslami said, adding that voter turnout stood at 49.8 percent. The number of spoiled ballots was reported to be over 600,000.

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 said in a post on social media platform X, after on Tuesday saying he would “extend the hand of friendship to everyone” if he won.

The election, called early after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, followed a first round marked by a historically low turnout last week. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate authority, had called for a higher turnout in the runoff, emphasizing the importance of the election.

He said the first-round turnout was lower than expected, but added that it was not an act “against the system”.

The ballot comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war, a dispute with the West over Iran’s nuclear programme, and domestic discontent over the state of Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.

In last week’s first round, Pezeshkian, who was the only reformist allowed to stand, won the largest number of votes, around 42 percent, while Jalili came second with around 39 percent, according to figures from Iran’s elections authority.

Only 40 percent of Iran´s 61 million eligible voters took part in the first round -- the lowest turnout in any presidential election since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Pezeshkian vowed to ease long-standing internet restrictions and to “fully” oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf for women, a high-profile issue since the death in police custody in 2022 of Mahsa Amini.

The 22-year-old Iranian Kurd had been detained for an alleged breach of the dress code and her death sparked months of nationwide unrest.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended their heartfelt congratulations to Dr Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the President of Iran.

In their separate congratulation messages to Pezeshkian, Zardari said Pakistan and Iran enjoy fraternal ties and hope that “under your leadership our relations will grow further stronger”.

Zardari said he was looking forward to work together for peace and prosperity of the region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said he congratulated his brother Pezeshkian on his victory in Iran’s presidential elections. “I look forward to working closely with President-elect Dr Pezeshkian to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran bilateral ties and promote regional peace and stability,” he stated.

The prime minister said as neighbouring countries, Pakistan and Iran enjoy a close and historic relationship. “We must ensure a bright future for our two peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.