Iranians voted in a runoff for president on Friday between an authoritarian past nuclear negotiator and a reformist advocate for stronger ties with the West.
Following a second round with a generally low turnout last week, the election was called for early following the death of fundamentalist leader Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
In response to the growing local unrest caused by the Gaza conflict, Iran’s nuclear conflict with the West, and widespread financial unrest, which are all being exacerbated by American sanctions, the runoff will take place.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, cast his vote when the elections opened. He has the last say in all position issues.
” I heard that the enthusiasm and interest of the people is more than when, praise to God that it will be like this, and if it is like this, it will be gratifying”, he said.
Despite the fact that AFP journalists claimed polling stations appeared less occupied in Tehran, Saveh in northern Iran and Kerman in the south were visible on state television.
In next week’s primary round, Pezeshkian, who was the only revolutionary permitted to walk, won the largest number of votes, around 42 percent, while Jalili came next with 39 percent, according to figures from Iran’s elections authority.
The participation in any national vote since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was only 40 % of Iran’s 61 million available voters.
Authorities have extended polling hours in previous elections to give voters the most time to vote, and the interior ministry announced that they will be extended until 10:00 pm ( GMT ) on Friday.
Low attendance
Khamenei advocated for a higher participation in the runoff, underscoring the significance of the vote.
He claimed that the turnout for the first round was lower than anticipated, but that it was not an “against the system” action.
The poll was originally scheduled for 2025, but it was changed after Raisi’s dying in a May helicopter crash brought it forth.
Pezeshkian and Jalili participated in two televised debates where they discussed Iran’s low turnout, foreign relations, and digital restrictions.
Pezeshkian pledged to “fully” resist police patrols that require women to wear a robe, a topic that has become a hot button since Mahsa Amini’s death in police prison in 2022.
The 22-year-old Egyptian Kurd had been detained for an alleged dress code violation, and her death sparked decades of unrest across the country.
People have consistently broken the law in the wake of the unrest, but authorities have recently increased investigations.
At a Tehran voting place, 48- year- ancient Fatemeh said she voted for the liberal whose “priorities include women and young person’s rights”.
After years of dominance by the authoritarian and liberal tents, Pezeshkian’s election has raised the hope of Iran’s reformers.
Jalili, who is renowned for his unwavering opposition to the West, garnered a sizable amount of support from other authoritarian candidates and received backing from various ultraconservative candidates.
While fighting, the 58- year- ancient condemned moderates for having signed the 2015 package which promised Iran sanctions comfort in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.
Jalili said the authority, which the United States withdrew from in 2018 under therefore- president Donald Trump, “did no advantage Iran at all”.
‘ Fed up’
At a polling station in northern Tehran, Ali, a 38-year-old college professor, said,” I voted for Jalili because the next president does not repeat the preceding oversight and sign a new contract with the West.”
” They deceived us once and that’s enough. Their promises cannot be trusted”, said Ali, who gave only his first name.
Pezeshkian, a 69- year- old heart surgeon, has called for” constructive relations” with Western countries to revive the nuclear deal in order to “get Iran out of its isolation”.
Pezeshkian voted in a school west of Tehran, where former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped secure the 2015 deal, accompanied him.
Since 2008, he has been a member of the Tabriz city’s parliament, and his candidacy has been supported by former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani.
Khatami urged Iranians to cast their ballots on Friday” for the betterment of the country and the future.”
Pezeshkian said people were “fed up with their living conditions… and dissatisfied with the government’s management of affairs”.
Jalili has held several senior positions, including in Khamenei’s office in the early 2000s.
He is currently one of Khamenei’s representatives in the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s highest security body.
