The first round of Iran's presidential election, despite a low turnout, showed support for the only candidate calling for reform. Masoud Pezeshkian, the reformist contender, and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili led the polls held to replace the late ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.

Tehran

In the first round of Iran's presidential election, support was shown for the sole reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian. Despite a low voter turnout, Pezeshkian led the polls, surpassing conservative contenders. This election follows the death of Iran's ultraconservative president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash.

At Tehran's Grand Bazaar, shopkeepers expressed their reactions to the election results. Many voters supported Pezeshkian, citing his performance in debates and his perceived sense of justice and sincerity. Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon who served as health minister under Iran’s last reformist president, has promised to address arbitrary measures that limit freedoms for women and young people.

Pezeshkian will face ultraconservative candidate Saeed Jalili in the run-off. Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator, came in second place, followed by Conservative Parliament Speaker Mohamed Baga Halibaf in third, and Conservative cleric Mostafa Pomehamedi in fourth.



Iran election shows support for reformist candidate

At Tehran's Grand Bazaar, these shopkeepers take in the results of the first round of voting in the presidential election. You said Halibaf, but he's third. In a surprise twist, the only reformist candidate won the largest number of votes in the first round. I voted for Massoud Bezeshkian, I hope he will win now. Honestly, we didn't really know him, but since he spoke well in the debates, he seems to have a sense of justice. He doesn't seem tough, he's sincere. Bezeshkian, a 69-year-old heart surgeon, served as health minister under Iran's last reformist president. When asked what he plans to do for women and young people who want more freedom, if elected, he replied... Some of the measures implemented today are arbitrary. They don't comply with the law. According to the law, no one has the right to pick on them or disrespect them. Facing him in the run-off on the 5th of July is the ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili. The former nuclear negotiator came second in Friday's vote, ahead of Conservative Parliament Speaker Mohamed Baga Halibaf in third and Mostafa Pomehamedi, a Conservative cleric, in fourth.

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