Iran has elected a new president, reformist Massoud Pezeshkian, who advocates a country more open to the West, in the face of ultraconservative Said Jalili, to succeed Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash last May.
The 69-year-old surgeon by profession received more than 16 million votes (53.6%) out of 30 million cast, according to electoral authorities.
He enjoyed the support of Iran’s main reformist coalition as well as many Iranians who feared the ultraconservatives’ absolute control over the country.
What did Pezeshkian promise?
The reformist candidate called for “constructive relations” with Washington and European countries in order to “bring Iran out of its isolation.”
He has pledged to try to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers including the United States, which imposed restrictions on Iranian nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief.
Nuclear negotiations are currently at an impasse following the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018.
Domestically, he has promised to remove restrictions on the internet and pledged to “fully oppose” morality police patrols enforcing the requirement for women to wear the veil.
Mr. Pezeshkian also called for greater representation of women, as well as religious and ethnic minorities, including Kurds and Baluchis, in the government.
He promised to reduce the inflation rate, currently around 40%.
In a televised debate with his rival Jalili, Pezeshkian estimated that Iran needed $200 billion in foreign investment, which he said could only be obtained by restoring ties with the world.
What are the real powers of the president in Iran?
The president in Iran has limited powers. He is responsible for implementing, at the head of the government, the broad political guidelines set by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been head of state for 35 years.
As president, Pezeshkian will hold the second most important post in the Islamic Republic, and he will exert influence over domestic and foreign policy.
It determines the country’s financial policies by proposing the budget bill and appointing the head of the central bank and the Minister of Economy.
He will, however, have limited power over the Iranian police, and virtually no power over the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s ideological army.
Iran’s military forces answer directly to the Supreme Leader.
What are people’s expectations?
Iranians have mixed feelings about Pezeshkian’s victory, with some expressing joy while others appear skeptical.
“We are very happy that Mr. Pezeshkian won. We need a literate president to solve economic problems,” said Abolfazl, a 40-year-old architect.
Rashed, a 40-year-old hairdresser, said Pezeshkian’s victory “doesn’t matter” because “the situation will only get worse anyway.”
Political analyst and journalist Maziar Khosravi explained that the president-elect “did not promise to immediately solve the problems” in Iran.
He said people voted for him because “they realised that his approach was to interact with the world”, which was “completely different from the current government”.
According to political commentator Mossadegh Mossadeghpoor, Pezeshkian’s supporters hope that “he can bring good changes and solve some of the country’s problems,” particularly the economy.
What can Pezeshkian bring?
Experts say Pezeshkian will face serious challenges in a country where almost all state institutions are controlled by conservatives.
One such institution is the parliament, which is dominated by conservatives and ultraconservatives, according to Mossadeghpoor.
“Dealing with the issue of the hijab or any other ideological issue is not the president’s responsibility,” Mossadeghpoor added, stressing that it is a “matter of Muslim law.”
Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group says Pezeshkian faces “an uphill battle” to ensure “social and cultural rights at home and diplomatic engagement abroad.”
Regarding the nuclear deal, Mossadeghpoor notes that Pezeshkian might be able to “solve it if that is the will of the system.”
“No one should expect Iran’s approach to foreign policy to fundamentally change,” Khosravi said.
The election in Iran was closely followed abroad, as Iran is at the heart of several geopolitical crises, from the war in Gaza to the nuclear issue, in which it opposes the West.