Rohit Baniwal, writer
News in brief
Iran has elected Masoud Pezeshkian as its new president, despite social unrest, economic hardship, and regional conflict. Pezeshkian, a moderate contender, has been in parliament since 2008 and aims to ease societal constraints and enhance relations with the West, particularly nuclear discussions. The 88-person nation has faced economic shatters, opposition crackdowns, inflation, and Western sanctions. The Israel-Hamas war and Tehran’s nuclear enrichment are also causing problems with the U.S. The new president faces the November White House winner, and as Iran moves closer to nuclear weapon manufacturing and supports proxy organizations battling Israel, the stakes rise for Tehran, Washington, and the Middle East. The election might affect Iran’s internal and international policy, but not the status quo.
News in details
Iran chose Masoud Pezeshkian as president, an unexpected triumph for reformists despite social unrest, economic hardship, and regional conflict.
Local authorities reported 16.3 million ballots for Pezeshkian and 49.8% turnout. His right-wing opponent, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, won 13.5 million votes.
Pezeshkian, 69, defeated many conservative candidates despite being called a “token reformist” and a “second-tier candidate” with minimal name recognition.
He was the most moderate contender and served as health minister under Iran’s last reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, from 1997 to 2005. Khatami and other reformists backed him.
The vice speaker of parliament and a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Pezeshkian has been in parliament since 2008. He wants to ease societal constraints like Iran’s hijab legislation and enhance relations with the West, especially nuclear discussions.
Pezeshkian will lead the Islamic Republic for four years and confront many problems. The 88 million-person nation has faced a shattered economy, brutal opposition crackdowns, soaring inflation, and Western sanctions for years. The Israel-Hamas war and Tehran’s nuclear enrichment are also causing problems with the U.S.
Fundamental changes unlikely?
The new Iranian president will face the November White House winner. As Iran gets closer to nuclear weapon manufacturing and supports proxy organisations battling Israel, the stakes rise for Tehran, Washington, and the Middle East.
Iranian presidents affect foreign policy and war and are the country’s public face. Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and unelected entities like the Revolutionary Guards make crucial decisions.
Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Centre for International Policy, told CNBC that the election might affect Iran’s internal and international policy, but not the status quo.
He stated the Supreme Leader and key entities like the Revolutionary Guard set the baseline for Iran’s strategic decisions, especially against the U.S. and Israel.
“Pezeshkian’s victory could open avenues for renewed diplomatic engagements and slightly more progressive domestic policies. Even with a reformist president, Iran’s political landscape’s power structures and strategic imperatives would constrain change, Toossi added. Any true change would likely be slow and incremental, not transformative.”
Following the May helicopter disaster that killed former President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran conducted elections.
The ultra-conservative Guardian Council controls who may compete in Iran’s elections, making them not free or fair. Nearly 61 million eligible Iranians may vote, but many boycotted due to a lack of choice.
The council selected six presidential candidates from 80 registrations, and all female candidates were rejected. Five of the six accepted candidates were conservatives and three were Western-backed.
Source : CNBC News
