A hardline protege of Iran's supreme leader and a relative moderate are to face each other in a run-off presidential election. Both are loyalists to the system and neither is expected to bring a major shift, a lack of real choice that was reflected in a historically low turnout.

Tehran

Iran's presidential election is set for a runoff between a moderate lawmaker, Massoud Pazashkian, and a former Revolutionary Guards member, Saeed Jalili, who is seen as a hardline protégé of Iran's supreme leader. The Islamic Republic's interior ministry announced that no candidate secured enough votes, necessitating a second round.

The voter turnout was reported at a historic low of about 40 percent. This low participation occurred despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's call for voters to boost the legitimacy of the clerical establishment. The depressed turnout is attributed to widespread discontent over economic difficulties and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

Pazashkian, who remains loyal to Iran's theocratic rule, has been public in his criticism of authorities, particularly following the death of Massa Amini, an event that led to mass unrest in Iran in 2022. He also advocates for improved relations with the West. In contrast, Jalili is firmly anti-Western. However, neither candidate is expected to bring major policy changes, as critical decisions on issues like Iran’s nuclear program and its support for militant groups remain under Khamenei's control.

The incoming president will nonetheless have the task of running the government, influencing both domestic and foreign policy, and possibly impacting the future succession of Ayatollah Khamenei.



Hardliner, moderate to stand in Iran Presidential run-off

Iran's presidential election has gone to a runoff, where a moderate lawmaker will stand against a protégé of the supreme leader. It came down to a tight race between a low-profile lawmaker, Massoud Pazashkian, the sole moderate in a field of four candidates, and former Revolutionary Guards member Saeed Jalili. The Islamic Republic's interior ministry said on Saturday that no candidate had secured enough votes, and a second round will be held on July 5. Turnout in Friday's election hit a historic low of about 40 percent, based on an interior ministry count. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called on voters to turn out, hoping to boost the legitimacy of the clerical establishment. But there's widespread discontent over economic hardship and restrictions on political and social freedom. Many Iranians have mocked the vote-on X with the hashtag election circus. Pazashkian, though faithful to Iran's theocratic rule, has publicly criticized authorities over the death of Massa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman whose death in custody sparked mass unrest in Iran in 2022. He also favors détente with the West, while Jalili is staunchly anti-Western. Neither candidate is expected to usher in significant shifts for Iran, because Khamenei calls the shots on major issues, like Iran's nuclear program and support for militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. But the next president would run the government and affect the tone of domestic and foreign policy, and could even influence the succession to Khamenei.

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