The Race for Iran’s Next President

One pledged he would confront Iran’s enemies, the other vowed to make peace with the world. One intends to double down on social restrictions, the other promises to ease stifling rules for young people and women. One identifies as an Islamic ideologue, the other as a pragmatic reformist. The race to become Iran’s next president has turned into a fierce competition where, for the first time in more than a decade, the outcome is difficult to predict. The winner will be decided in a runoff on Friday after a general election the week before failed to produce a candidate with the required 50 percent of the vote. The result may hinge on how many Iranians who sat out the vote in the general election decide to participate in the runoff. Turnout was at a record low of 40 percent last week, with the majority of Iranians boycotting the vote out of anger at the government or alienation and apathy over the failure of previous governments to produce meaningful changes.

Candidates Overview

• Saeed Jalili: An ultraconservative hard-liner known for his dogmatic ideas. Rejects any accommodation with the West and advocates for closer ties with countries like Russia and China. Opposed the 2015 nuclear deal and supports mandatory hijab law for women and restrictions on the internet and social media.
• Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian: A reformist candidate who calls for moderation in both foreign and domestic policy. Gained traction among voters by advocating for easing social restrictions for young people and women. Emphasizes making peace with the world and a more moderate approach to governance.

This HTML content presents an overview of the race for Iran’s next president, focusing on the contrasting profiles of the two main candidates, Saeed Jalili and Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian.