Masoud Pezeshkian, a seasoned lawmaker and former health minister, has been elected as the ninth president of Iran, defeating his opponent Saeed Jalili in the recent presidential runoff election.
Pezeshkian secured 16,384,403 votes out of a total of 30,530,157, while Jalili received 13,538,179 votes. The election follows the untimely death of former President Ebrahim Raeisi in a helicopter crash in May.
Pezeshkian, born on September 29, 1954, in Mahabad, has had a long and distinguished political career. He has represented Tabriz in the Iranian parliament and served as Health Minister under President Mohammad Khatami from 2001 to 2005. A cardiac surgeon by training, Pezeshkian was also the chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and is a current member of its academic staff.
He has run for president twice before, in 2013 and 2021, but without significant success. His recent campaign emphasized unity, competence, and experience, with Javad Zarif as his choice for foreign minister. Pezeshkian advocates for a balanced foreign policy, prioritizing relationships with neighboring nations while diversifying global connections.
Throughout his career, Pezeshkian has stressed the importance of trust, honesty, and adherence to the principles and legal framework of the Islamic Republic, as defined by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
