In Iran’s presidential runoff election held on Saturday, Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate and heart surgeon, emerged as the winner. His campaign promises included engaging with Western nations and easing the enforcement of Iran’s mandatory headscarf law. These pledges resonated with voters following a challenging period marked by sanctions and protests that have put pressure on the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian’s rival, the hard-liner Saeed Jalili, was unsuccessful in his bid for the presidency. The election saw a turnout of around 30 million voters, with Pezeshkian securing over 17 million votes and Jalili receiving more than 13 million votes.
