Supporters of Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, entered the streets of Tehran and other cities before dawn to celebrate as his lead grew over Jalili.
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hardliner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.
Supporters of Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime lawmaker, entered the streets of Tehran and other cities before dawn to celebrate as his lead grew over Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator. Government officials up to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei predicted a higher participation rate as voting got under way, with state television airing images of modest lines at some polling centres across the country.
The campaign also repeatedly touched on what would happen if former President Donald Trump, who unilaterally withdrew America from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, wins the November election. Iran has held indirect talks with President Joe Biden’s administration, though there’s been no clear movement back towards constraining Tehran’s nuclear program for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran's presidential runoff electionReformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran's runoff presidential election, besting hardliner Saeed Jalili.
Read more »
Iran's presidential election goes to a run-off vote between Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed JaliliIran will hold a run-off presidential election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, after an initial vote sees the top two candidates fall short of securing an outright win.
Read more »
Iran reformist Masoud Pezeshkian extends lead in presidential election countCelebration in streets of Tehran as hardliner Saeed Jalili falls further behind in second round, with mixed picture of turnout
Read more »
Javad Zarif, negotiator of Iran nuclear deal, backs reformist presidential candidateFiery former foreign minister enters campaign to elect mild-mannered consensual reformist Masoud Pezeshkian
Read more »
Iranian presidential vote: lone reformist candidate faces uphill struggleMasoud Pezeshkian must convince disillusioned voters that he represents chance for credible change
Read more »
Iran’s reformist presidential candidate eyes improved relations with USMasoud Pezeshkian hopes to win over an apathetic electorate and revive talks on the country’s nuclear deal
Read more »