Masoud Pezeshkian wins presidential election in Iran (Who is Masoud Pezeshkian?)

In Iran, reformist Tabriz MP and former Minister of Health Masoud Pezeshkian has become the country's 9th president, receiving 53.7 percent of the votes in the second round of the 14th presidential election.

Mohsen Eslami, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Interior's Election Headquarters, announced at a press conference at the ministry's election center that the vote counting process for the second round of the presidential election held yesterday has been completed.

Stating that a total of 30 million 530 thousand 157 votes were cast at polling stations set up in approximately 59 thousand centers across the country, Eslami said that Pezeshkian received 16 million 384 thousand 403 votes. Accordingly, Pezeshkian's vote share was 53.7 percent.

Eslami stated that conservative Saeed Jalili received 13 million 538 thousand 179 votes. Jalili's vote share remained at 44.4 percent.

The turnout rate for the second round of the presidential election was 49.8 percent.

WHO IS MASOUD PEZESHKIAN?

Masoud Pezeshkian, who became the country's 9th president by defeating his conservative rival Saeed Jalili in Iran's 14th presidential election, stands out not only for his political background but also for his unique stance.

Reformist politician Pezeshkian was born on September 29, 1954, in the city of Mahabad to an Iranian Turkic family and has expressed at every opportunity that he is proud of his Turkic identity. His surname, Pezeshkian, means "Doctors" in Persian, and he graduated from the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. He served as both a combatant and a doctor during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988.

Completing his general practitioner training in 1985, Pezeshkian continued his education after the war by specializing in general surgery at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Receiving his specialization in cardiac surgery from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1993, Pezeshkian served as the Chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from 1994 to 1999.

HE LOST HIS WIFE AND SON IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

In 1994, Pezeshkian lost his wife, Fatemeh Majidi, and one of his sons in a traffic accident; he raised his remaining two sons and one daughter alone and never remarried. This loss and his story of dedication earned him sympathy and respect from many in Iranian society, who see him as a compassionate and resilient figure.

Pezeshkian's political life began with his appointment as Deputy Minister of Health in 1997 during the term of former President Mohammad Khatami. He was later appointed Minister of Health in 2001 during the Khatami administration, a position he held until 2005.

Successfully entering Parliament as a Tabriz MP in the 2008 general election, Pezeshkian has served as a representative for Tabriz for five terms since then.

HE DID NOT SHY AWAY FROM HARSH CRITICISM, SUPPORTED GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE WEST

Pezeshkian did not shy away from harsh criticism of the government's stance toward dissidents. After giving a speech in Parliament criticizing the interventions of security forces following the events that occurred after the 2009 presidential election, Pezeshkian experienced tension with conservative MPs.

Pezeshkian, who applied to run in the 2013 presidential election but later withdrew his candidacy, served as Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament for 4 years starting in 2016. During this period, he advocated for the nuclear deal and good relations with the West.

Pezeshkian's application to run in the 2021 elections was rejected by the Guardian Council. However, he re-entered Parliament as a Tabriz MP in the parliamentary elections held on March 1.

HIS STATEMENTS AFTER THE DEATH OF MAHSA AMINI

Speaking on a program he attended on state television after a young woman named Mahsa Amini died in police custody in Iran in September 2022, Pezeshkian said that interventions stemming from the mandatory hijab law for women were worsening the situation and should be ended.

Pezeshkian stated, "We want our children to be chaste, but if these behaviors are driving them away from religion, we should not continue this method."

HE PROMISED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS REGARDING THE ECONOMY AND JUSTICE

Receiving open support from figures such as former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Pezeshkian emphasized "ethnic and sectarian discrimination" and the issue of the mandatory hijab in his election campaigns. He promised to solve problems regarding the economy and justice.

Promising to largely lift internet restrictions, Pezeshkian stated that significant reforms in domestic and foreign policy and the establishment of better relations with the West were necessary.

Pezeshkian became the first reformist figure to be elected president in Iran since 2005.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM PEZESHKIAN

Masoud Pezeshkian, who won the presidential election in Iran in the second round with 53.7 percent of the vote, stated that the road ahead is difficult and that they cannot overcome it without unity and trust.

In his first message to the public on his X social media account, Pezeshkian said, "Dear people of Iran, the elections are over. This is the beginning of our unity. We cannot overcome the difficult road ahead 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."

According to the official results announced in the second round of the presidential election held in Iran, reformist Tabriz MP and former Minister of Health Masoud Pezeshkian managed to become the country's 9th president by receiving 53.7 percent of the votes.