Iran’s upcoming runoff vote comes after no candidate secured 50% of the votes in the recent election. Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili will face off next week as the country’s interior ministry announced the results on Saturday. With Pezeshkian receiving 10.4 million votes and Jalili getting 9.4 million, the runoff is set to determine the next leader.
Iranian law mandates a winner to secure more than half of all votes cast. This runoff will mark only the second time in Iran’s history, with the first being in 2005. Amidst regional tensions and domestic issues, this election is crucial for the nation’s future.
Different camps
Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and former health minister, aims for constructive relations with the West. On the other hand, ultraconservative Jalili, Iran’s ex-nuclear negotiator, maintains a strong anti-West stance.
The country’s next president will hold significant power in implementing state policies outlined by the supreme leader. Regardless of the outcome, the runoff election will shape Iran’s trajectory in a time of uncertainty and change.