Iran presidential election runoff features reformist against ultraconservative candidate

In the upcoming presidential runoff in Iran, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili will face off against reformist Masoud Pezeshkian. Jalili, known for his staunch anti-Western stance, aims to unite Iran's conservative factions under the guidance of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. With a significant base of hardline supporters, Jalili garnered over 9.4 million votes in the first round, emphasizing a "no compromise, no surrender" approach to the West. Born in 1965 in Mashhad, Jalili has a background in senior roles, including leading Iran's nuclear negotiations from 2007 to 2013, where he maintained an unwavering position that critics deemed ideological rather than strategic. Pezeshkian, the sole reformist candidate, secured 42.4% of the vote in the initial round, setting the stage for a runoff against Jalili, who obtained 38.6%. The election, marked by historically low turnout, saw conservative parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in third place with 13.8%. Following the results, both Pezeshkian and Jalili called on their supporters to back Jalili in the upcoming July 5 runoff, aiming to consolidate conservative votes. The election, originally scheduled for 2025, was expedited due to the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. In his post-election remarks, Pezeshkian urged supporters to vote in the runoff to combat poverty, lies, discrimination, and injustice. The election, overseen by electoral authorities, faced scrutiny from opposition groups, including calls for a boycott questioning the election's credibility. With endorsements from former president Mohammad Khatami, Pezeshkian's bid represents a push for reform amidst a political landscape dominated by conservative figures like Ghalibaf and Jalili. As the runoff approaches, the focus remains on how the candidates will navigate Iran's political dynamics and the expectations set by the supreme leader.