Spokesperson for the Election Center of the Iranian Ministry of Interior, Mohsen Islami, announced at a press conference at the election center in the ministry building that the counting of votes in the second round of the presidential election held yesterday had been completed. Islami, who reported that a total of 30,530,157 votes were cast in approximately 59,000 ballot boxes across the country, said that Pezeshkian received 16,384,403 votes, with a vote rate of 53.7 percent. Islami announced that the conservative Said Jalili received 13,538,179 votes, with a vote rate of 44.4 percent. The turnout in the second round of the presidential election was 49.8 percent.
Statements by Masoud Pezeshkian
In his first message to the public on his X social media account, Masoud Pezeshkian said, “Dear Iranian people, the elections are over. This is the beginning of our unity. We cannot overcome the difficult path ahead of us without unity and trust. I extend my hand to you and I swear on my honor that I will not leave you alone on this path.”
Who is Masoud Pezeshkian?
- Born in 1954, reformist politician Masoud Pezeshkian was born into an Iranian-Turkish family and is proud of his Turkish identity.
- He graduated from Tabriz University Faculty of Medicine. He received his cardiac surgery specialization from Tabriz University of Health Sciences.
- He served as Rector of Tabriz University of Health Sciences between 1994-1999.
- He served as Minister of Health of Iran between 2001 and 2005.
- He was elected as the Tabriz MP in 2008 and has represented Tabriz for five terms since then.
Political Career of Masoud Pezeshkian
Massoud Pezeshkian began his political career in 1997 when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health and later served as Minister of Health. He also served as Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament in 2016. Pezeshkian has been harshly critical of the government’s stance against dissidents and advocated good relations with the West regarding the nuclear deal.
Promises of Masoud Pezeshkian
- During his election campaign, Pezeshkian emphasized the ethnic and sectarian discrimination and the compulsory headscarf problem in the country and promised to solve the problems of the economy and justice.
- He also stated that he would lift internet bans and establish better relations with the West by making reforms in domestic and foreign policy.
Mahsa Emini Incident and Pezeshkian’s Statements
Speaking on state television after a young woman named Mahsa Emini died in police custody in September 2022, Pezeshkiyan stated that interventions stemming from the compulsory headscarf law should be ended and should not cause children to drift away from religion.
