During the election campaign, Iran’s newly elected president called for reforms and better relations with the West. But what can Massoud Peseschkian really achieve in the Islamic Republic?
After his victory in the presidential election in Iran, the relatively moderate candidate Massoud Peseschkian is facing major challenges. Many of his voters are likely to expect a change in policy from him. Whether this can succeed depends on several factors. Former Iranian President Hassan Ruhani sees Peseschkian’s election as an opportunity to resume nuclear negotiations, the newspaper “Shargh” quoted the former head of government as saying.
Peseschkian won a runoff election on Friday with 53.7 percent of the vote against his ultra-conservative challenger Said Jalili. The politician belongs to the camp of the reform movement. Its supporters want to reform the Islamic Republic from within without affecting the fundamental balance of power – such as the absolute authority of the religious leader in the state. Observers see the victory as a blow to the conservative leadership elite and a success for the relatively moderate reformist camp, which has been isolated from politics in recent years.
Peseschkian said on Saturday that it was now a matter of “overcoming the various challenges and crises”. There are several of them: Iran is subject to international sanctions because of its controversial nuclear program and is largely cut off from the global financial system. The country needs billions in investments, unemployment and income inequality are high. Society has been deeply divided not only since the most recent wave of protests, which was triggered in 2022 by the death of a young woman at the hands of the morality police. In terms of foreign policy, the conflict with Israel and the West is also simmering.
Religious leader Khamenei wants cooperation between the camps
Peseschkian has announced an improvement in relations with the West and criticized the country’s headscarf policy during the election campaign. Given the complex political situation and powerful interest groups in Iran, however, it is unclear to what extent a significant change of course can actually be expected from the runoff election winner Peseschkian. Observers assume that he will try to reshape both domestic and foreign policy and thus also stimulate the ailing economy.
How much influence Peseschkian will have depends largely on religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the most powerful man in the state. There are also influential interest groups such as the Revolutionary Guards – Iran’s elite military force, which is also a major economic power in the country. The Revolutionary Guards will have a say in whether there will be any noticeable changes in course.
As the newspaper “Shargh” reported, citing members of parliament, Peseschkian is to be sworn in on August 4 or 5. After that, the president has 15 days to present his cabinet. From August 22, this is to be confirmed by parliament. The hardliners have the majority there. After Peseschkian’s election and the defeat of the hardliner candidate, religious leader Khamenei called for “political rivalry to now be transformed into friendship.” It is nevertheless considered unlikely that the arch-conservatives will cooperate with the hostile camp of moderates.
Majority of eligible Iranians did not vote
Since the revolution of 1979, Iran’s political system has combined republican and theocratic elements. However, there are no free elections: the so-called Guardian Council, a powerful Islamic control body, always checks candidates for their suitability. This time, the Guardian Council only allowed six of the 80 presidential candidates to run in the first round of voting.
Very few Iranians believe that there will be any change in the country. Reforms to the political system are not possible, they often say with resignation. As was the case with this year’s parliamentary election, the weeks before the vote were marked by conspicuous indifference. In the first round, this was reflected in a historically low voter turnout of around 40 percent. In the runoff, turnout reached 49.8 percent.
The early election followed the death of incumbent Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. His nearly three-year term in office was marked by political repression, waves of protests and a deteriorating economic situation.
New president wants to regain the people’s trust
It was against this background that Peseschkian campaigned for a new relationship of trust between the government and the people. He brings political experience with him. During the second presidency of Mohammed Khatami (2001-2005), Peseschkian was Minister of Health. Despite his moderate rhetoric, he supported the powerful Revolutionary Guards and praised the drone and missile attack on arch-enemy Israel in April. In the TV debates, he described himself as a conservative politician who, however, believes reforms are necessary.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
