Pezeshkian: Turkish-Iranian Reformist Wins Iran's Presidency

The opinion polls in Iran were accurate, and the reformist politician, Masoud Pezeshkian, succeeded in attaining the presidency, a position left vacant after Ebrahim Raisi's plane crash on May 19, 2024.

On July 6, 2024, Pezeshkian won the second round of the presidential elections, receiving 53.7 percent of the votes to become the country's ninth president.

Following his victory, the newly elected president stated, "I extend a hand of friendship to all Iranians."

Meanwhile, his conservative rival Saeed Jalili conceded defeat in a televised statement, calling for "all means of support for the newly elected president."

Former Minister 

Masoud Pezeshkian was born on September 29, 1954, in the Kurdish city of Mahabad in West Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran. He is a reformist politician belonging to the Turkish ethnic group in Iran.

Pezeshkian graduated in 1985 from the Faculty of Medicine at Tabriz University and participated in the Iran-Iraq War during his studies, leading medical teams to treat the wounded. He continued his studies, specializing in general surgery in 1990 and then in cardiac surgery in 1993.

After serving as the president of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for six years, Pezeshkian moved to Tehran to assume the position of Deputy Minister of Health for six months. His political career began when he joined President Muhammad Khatami's second government in 2001 as Minister of Health.

In 2016, Pezeshkian was appointed as the first deputy speaker of the parliament under the conservative Ali Larijani, holding the position until 2020 before the 11th legislative elections.

He is a seasoned parliamentarian, having represented the constituency of Tabriz, Azarshahr, and Osku in East Azerbaijan Province since 2006. In the March 2024 elections, he was re-elected.

In his most recent parliamentary campaign in 2024, Pezeshkian stated that The Guardian Council initially disqualified him on the grounds of non-compliance with the ruling system, but Supreme Leader Khamenei intervened and recommended approving his candidacy.

Pezeshkian had previously run for president twice. He withdrew from the 2013 race after announcing his candidacy and failed to complete the 2021 election, which Raisi won, due to The Guardian Council's disqualification.

During the widespread protests in late 2022 following the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police in Tehran, Pezeshkian criticized the handling of her case in an interview on the official Iranian channel Khabar TV and called for transparency regarding the circumstances of her death.

On May 31, Pezeshkian stated in an interview with The New Arab that if he won the presidency, he would prioritize expanding relations with Arab and Islamic countries in his foreign policy.

In 2020, Pezeshkian condemned the U.S. decision to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization and praised the downing of a U.S. drone by Iran, describing it as a firm response to American aggression and highlighting the Guard's "crucial" role in national security.

The opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) or Mujahedin-e Khalq, described Pezeshkian as one of “Khamenei's pawns,” selected to legitimize the presidential elections and play the burned card of reformists and conservatives in Iran. In a report on June 17, the group called Pezeshkian "nothing more than a puppet of Khamenei," quoting him as saying at Tehran University that he is fully committed to the system of the Supreme Leader.

Congratulations from the Gulf

After winning the presidential elections, Pezeshkian received congratulations from Gulf leaders.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia sent a congratulatory message to the new Iranian president, wishing him "success and prosperity and the continued development of relations between the two countries and their brotherly peoples."

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also sent a similar message, expressing "best wishes for success and further progress" and emphasizing the importance of "developing and deepening relations between the two countries and peoples, serving mutual interests."

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed congratulated Pezeshkian on X, wishing him "success in serving his country and fulfilling the aspirations of its people" and looking forward to working with him.

Qatar's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, posted, "Hearty congratulations to Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran," wishing him "success in serving his country towards further prosperity and growth, benefiting our region and the world."

Kuwait's Emir, Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and Crown Prince Sabah Khalid al-Sabah also sent congratulatory messages to Pezeshkian, wishing him and Iran further progress.

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq also sent a congratulatory message to Pezeshkian.

Hope for Reformists 

Pezeshkian received support from the reformist faction in Iran, which is considered more moderate compared to the conservative faction known for its rigidity and to which Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former President Ebrahim Raisi belong.

On June 25, former Iranian Presidents Muhammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani endorsed Pezeshkian, urging votes for him to revive the nuclear deal with the West.

In a message to Iranians, Khatami urged voters to support Pezeshkian, emphasizing that voting for the sole reformist candidate among the six contenders was the only way to change the country.

On June 28, 2024, Iran held an early presidential election in its first round, with a fierce competition among the six candidates: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Alireza Zakani, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian commented on the support of those who described him as “the spiritual father of the reform movement,” and said during press statements on June 26: “I thank Khatami for his kindness. But when I hear the praise, they give me, I feel a heavy burden,” adding, "I only call for justice and to assist the underprivileged as long as I am alive."

In the same vein, Hassan Rouhani also called for voting for the reformist candidate, as he is "determined to lift sanctions and revive the nuclear deal, join the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and resolve banking and financial relations issues."

In a video message on June 25, Rouhani endorsed Pezeshkian and hinted at Raisi's tenure without naming him, saying, "I ask the people who endured three years of problems, hardships, inflation, and unethical behavior in the streets to vote for the only reformist candidate."

Former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also announced his support for Pezeshkian, who appointed Zarif as his foreign policy advisor.

Zarif appeared in one of the reformist candidate's election debates, broadcast on television on June 19. He presented a vision for foreign policy focused on "national interests, economic development, constructive engagement" with the world, and strengthening military capabilities and internal security.

Similarly, Mehdi Karroubi, the reformist leader, announced his support for Pezeshkian on June 19, emphasizing from his years-long house arrest the need to achieve essential goals to improve the country's situation, such as overcoming sanctions, upholding the rights of the people, and combating corruption.