Iran Elects A New President

 

Acknowledging that descriptors can be relative, it appears a more "moderate" reformist candidate has just been elected Iran's new president:

Aided by record low turnout and deep frustration with Iran’s ruling class, little known reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian defeated prominent ultraconservative Saeed Jalili to become the next president of Iran.

Pezeshkian, who advocates moderate policies at home and limited engagement with the West, won after the vote went to a runoff Friday, according to results announced by Iranian state media Saturday morning. Turnout on Friday stood at 50 percent, just slightly higher than last week’s historic low of 40 percent.

Pezeshkian, who previously had only limited exposure as a national political figure was the sole reformist approved to run after snap elections were called following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a May helicopter crash. Pezeshkian netted 16.3 million votes, according to the country’s election headquarters, almost 3 million more than Jalili, his nearest rival, who trailed behind with about 13.5 million.

The victory for Pezeshkian delivers a significant blow to Iran’s ultraconservative party at a critical time for the country as it faces heightened regional tensions and a standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

This comes as a Biden Administration- brokered ceasefire/ hostage release deal between Iran client Hamas and Israel seems to be inching closer to fruition.  If indeed Pezeshkian wants engagement with the West, pressuring Hamas and their other client terrorists, Hezbollah, to stand down would seem the right signal to send.  In doing so, he would still face perhaps insurmountable resistance from the ultra- conservative elements in the regime, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards, which controls the ballistic missile program (!) and is heavily represented throughout the regime and in its terrorist- supporting networks abroad:

Pezeshkian’s victory shows he was able to expand his base of support, pulling from both the reformist and conservative ranks, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, an Iran analyst and dean at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

But once in office, Iran’s conservatives might frustrate the plans Pezeshkian set out during his campaign.

“The conservatives will try to create obstacles from day one,” Boroujerdi said. “He won’t have much of a honeymoon. … They will apply the brakes to whatever Pezeshkian will try to do.”

But, if there's an advantage Pezeshkian has, it's that Iran's social and economic crises are demanding action:

At home, many Iranians are still reeling from the brutal government crackdown on nationwide protests that erupted in 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, in the custody of the widely reviled “morality police.”

In the uprising’s aftermath, the regime doubled down, sentencing some protesters to death and increasing penalties for women who disobey its strict dress codes.

Amid simmering social unrest and a deepening economic crisis, the presidential campaign featured some rare acknowledgment of the challenges faced by the country’s ruling class — a sign, analysts say, of how serious those challenges have become...

Challenges that can be met with reform, or with more brutal repression.  

(Photo:  President- elect Pezeshkian casts his ballot)