Masoud Pezeshkian Wins Presidential Election in Iran
In a tightly contested run-off election, Masoud Pezeshkian emerged victorious with 53.7 percent of the votes, defeating his hardline rival Saeed Jalili. This result marks a significant moment for Iran as Pezeshkian, a moderate politician, takes the helm during a critical period for the country. Pezeshkian's win came after an intense campaign and a run-off election, which was necessitated by the inconclusive results of the initial June 28 ballot. In that earlier vote, Pezeshkian had secured 42.5 percent of the votes, while Jalili garnered 38.7 percent. The run-off saw Pezeshkian gaining 16.3 million votes, representing 53.7 percent of the total votes cast. Jalili, on the other hand, received 13.5 million votes, or 44.3 percent. In his first remarks as president-elect, Pezeshkian acknowledged the challenges ahead and called for unity among Iranians. "The difficult path ahead will not be smooth except with your companionship, empathy, and trust," he wrote in a...
