Iranâs reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday won a run-off presidential election against conservative Saeed Jalili, the interior ministry said. Mr. Pezeshkian received around 54% and Jalili roughly 44% out of about 30 million votes cast, while the voter turnout stood at 49.8% â up from a record low of about 40% during the first round. The election, necessitated by the death of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, came against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions due to the Gaza war, a dispute with the West over Iranâs nuclear programme, and domestic discontent over the state of Iranâs sanctions-hit economy. In his first comments after winning, Mr. Pezeshkian said the vote was the start of a âpartnershipâ with Iranâs people. âA difficult road is ahead. It can only be smooth with your cooperation, empathy and trust,â Mr. Pezeshkian said in a post on X. âI extend my hand to you and swear on my honour that I will not abandon you on this path. Do not abandon me.â Iranâs supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all major policy issues, congratulated Mr. Pezeshkian and asked him to continue former President Ebrahim Raisiâs policies. A protege of former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, the 69-year-old surgeon-turned-politician assumes presidency at a time when the Islamic Republic is witnessing social tensions and economic woes at home and heightened geopolitical risks abroad. His only previous government experience came as Health Minister about two decades ago. Mr. Pezeshkian rode on support from the countryâs main reformist coalition and many Iranians who feared a continued hardline grip on power. In campaigning, he called for âconstructive relationsâ with Western countries to âget Iran out of its isolationâ. He pledged to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and other powers. The deal collapsed in 2018 after Washington withdrew from it. Within Iran, he vowed to ease long-standing Internet restrictions and to âfullyâ oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf on women. Mr. Pezeshkian also pledged to involve more women and ethnic minorities such as Kurds and Baluchis in his government. He has also promised to reduce inflation, now hovering at around 40%. While Iranians have mixed feelings towards Mr. Pezeshkianâs victory, with some expressing happiness and others sceptical, analysts say Mr. Pezeshkian will face serious challenges because conservatives still dominate state institutions such as parliament. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr. Pezeshkian for his win in Iranâs presidential runoff election. âLooking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region,â Mr. Modi said. The Hinduâs Profiles Masoud Pezeshkian | Keeper of Iranâs reform hopes Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) | Policeman-turned-preacher The Hinduâs Daily Quiz Who is the State Congress chief for Jharkhand? Vinay Singh Rajesh Thakur Champai Soren Shibu Soren To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 07 July 2024 [The Hindu logo] [EP Logo] Editor's Pick 07 July 2024 In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [View in browser]( [More newsletters]( Iran elects reformist Pezeshkian as President Iranâs reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday [won a run-off presidential election]( against conservative Saeed Jalili, the interior ministry said. Mr. Pezeshkian received around 54% and Jalili roughly 44% out of about 30 million votes cast, while the voter turnout stood at 49.8% â up from a record low of about 40% during the first round. [The election, necessitated]( by the [death of conservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash]( in May, came against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions due to the Gaza war, a dispute with the West over Iranâs nuclear programme, and domestic discontent over the state of Iranâs sanctions-hit economy. In his first comments after winning, Mr. Pezeshkian said the vote was the start of a âpartnershipâ with Iranâs people. âA difficult road is ahead. It can only be smooth with your cooperation, empathy and trust,â Mr. Pezeshkian said in a post on X. âI extend my hand to you and [swear on my honour that I will not abandon you on this path. Do not abandon me.]( Iranâs supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all major policy issues, congratulated Mr. Pezeshkian and asked him to continue former President Ebrahim Raisiâs policies. A protege of former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, [the 69-year-old surgeon-turned-politician]( assumes presidency at a time when the Islamic Republic is witnessing social tensions and economic woes at home and heightened geopolitical risks abroad. His only previous government experience came as Health Minister about two decades ago. Mr. Pezeshkian rode on support from the countryâs main reformist coalition and many Iranians who feared a continued hardline grip on power. In campaigning,[he called for âconstructive relationsâ with Western countries to âget Iran out of its isolation](. He pledged to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and other powers. The deal collapsed in 2018 after Washington withdrew from it. Within Iran, he vowed to ease long-standing Internet restrictions and to âfullyâ oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf on women. Mr. Pezeshkian also pledged to involve more women and ethnic minorities such as Kurds and Baluchis in his government. He has also promised to reduce inflation, now hovering at around 40%. While Iranians have mixed feelings towards Mr. Pezeshkianâs victory, with some expressing happiness and others sceptical, analysts say Mr. Pezeshkian will face serious challenges because conservatives still dominate state institutions such as parliament. Meanwhile, [Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr. Pezeshkian for his win]( in Iranâs presidential runoff election. âLooking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region,â Mr. Modi said. The Hinduâs Profiles [Arrow][Masoud Pezeshkian | Keeper of Iranâs reform hopes](
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