In a presidential runoff vote, Iran chooses reformist Masoud Pezeshkian as its leader.

• Masoud Pezeshkian was elected as Iran's president in an unexpected victory for the country's reformist camp, despite deep social discontent, economic hardship, and regional war.
• The former minister, who is 69 years old, will serve as the head of government for the Islamic Republic for four years and will have numerous challenges to overcome.

Masoud Pezeshkian was elected as Iran's president in an unexpected victory for the country's reformist camp, despite deep social discontent, economic hardship, and regional war.

According to reports, Pezeshkian received 16.3 million votes in the election, while his rival Saeed Jalili garnered 13.5 million votes. The election had a 49.8% turnout.

Despite being a 69-year-old conservative, Pezeshkian emerged victorious over several other candidates in the election, despite being labeled as a "token reformist" and a "second-tier candidate" with little name recognition.

He was the most moderate candidate and previously served as Iran's health minister under Mohammad Khatami, who was the last reformist president of Iran from 1997 to 2005. Khatami, along with other reformist politicians, endorsed him.

Pezeshkian, a parliament member since 2008 and a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, is the vice speaker of parliament. He aims to ease social restrictions, such as Iran's strict hijab law, and enhance relations with the West, including possibly resuming nuclear talks with world powers.

As the head of government for the Islamic Republic, Pezeshkian will face numerous challenges for the next four years. The country of 88 million has been grappling with a struggling economy, strict crackdowns on dissent, high inflation, and heavy Western sanctions for years. Additionally, tensions with the U.S. are escalating due to Tehran's increased nuclear enrichment and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Fundamental changes unlikely?

The upcoming US presidential election will significantly impact the new Iranian president's ability to manage tensions with Washington and the Middle East, as Iran's nuclear capabilities and support for proxy groups intensify.

While the Iranian president has some sway on foreign policy and war matters and serves as the country's public spokesperson, ultimate power and crucial decision-making in Iran rest with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and unappointed bodies such as the Revolutionary Guards.

According to Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, while the election may result in changes in Iran's priorities, tone, and tactics, a significant shift in the status quo is unlikely.

The Supreme Leader and influential bodies like the Revolutionary Guard have established the core principles guiding Iran's strategic decisions, particularly concerning the U.S. and Israel.

Pezeshkian's victory may lead to renewed diplomatic talks and slightly more progressive domestic policies. However, Toossi cautioned that the extent of change would be limited by Iran's political landscape, which is defined by overarching power structures and strategic imperatives. Therefore, any real change is likely to be gradual and incremental rather than transformative.

The election in Iran took place after the sudden death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.

The Guardian Council in Iran has the final say on who can run in elections, which are not considered free or fair. Despite voting being open to 61 million eligible Iranians, many chose to boycott due to the lack of genuine choice for voters.

Out of 80 registrants for the presidency, only six were approved by the council, and all female candidates were disqualified. Of the six approved candidates, five were hard-line conservatives and three had been sanctioned by Western governments.