Iran’s president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian has defied expectations by winning the presidency against hardline rival Saeed Jalili. Mr. Pezeshkian, a reformist within Iran’s ruling elite, is notable for his moderate stance within the regime’s ideology.
Unlike the previous reformist administration in the late 1990s, Mr. Pezeshkian did not campaign on promises for a freer and more democratic society. Instead, he focused on the economic hardships faced by Iran due to Western sanctions, blaming conservative rivals for their radical anti-West stances.
During his campaign, Mr. Pezeshkian recruited Mohammad Javad Zarif, the country’s former foreign minister who helped strike the nuclear deal in 2015, to support his bid for the presidency. Despite criticism from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr. Pezeshkian emphasized a foreign policy that is not anti-West or anti-East, advocating for negotiations with the West to ease sanctions.
However, Mr. Khamenei, the main decision-maker in Iran, has expressed skepticism towards friendlier relations with the US, emphasizing the importance of the country’s security doctrine, particularly the actions of the Quds Force, the external arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
While the president may not have direct control over the Quds Force, the foreign ministry can still shape and implement policy, potentially influencing Iran’s activities in the region. The administration could also impact public discourse and promote policies that differ from Mr. Khamenei’s stance, offering a glimmer of hope for the reformists to enact change in the country.
As Mr. Pezeshkian prepares to take office, his presidency will be closely watched to see if he can navigate the complexities of Iran’s political landscape and bring about the reforms he has promised, despite the challenges posed by the ruling elite.
