Iran is set to hold a runoff presidential election on July 5 after the initial vote on Friday failed to produce an outright winner. This election, which marked the lowest voter turnout since the 1979 elections, saw reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-liner Saeed Jalili advance to the final round.
With more than 60% of eligible voters abstaining, Pezeshkian secured 10.4 million votes, narrowly leading Jalili, who received 9.4 million. The runoff pits Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon, against Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator known for his hard-line stance.
The vote saw isolated violence, including an attack in Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing two police officers, AP News reported.
The low turnout suggests growing public disillusionment and frustration with Iran’s political system. Over 1 million ballots were voided, which could indicate a protest vote.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who is imprisoned, and Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who remains under house arrest, called for a boycott of the presidential elections.
Pezeshkian faces criticism for being another government-approved candidate despite his reformist label. Jalili, known as the Living Martyr for his war injuries, is seen as a staunch hard-liner and received support from the conservative bloc.
Outgoing President Ebrahim Raisi’s tenure was marked by economic hardship and mass protests. Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May, was a protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The crash occurred in the Dizmar forest amid severe weather conditions, including heavy fog and rain. Despite immediate rescue efforts, the harsh weather and difficult terrain significantly hampered the search.
State media reported that the crash was a result of a technical failure, and Iran’s army chief Mohammed Bagheri has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The late president’s government faced large-scale protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody after being detained for not wearing a hijab correctly.
These protests were part of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which saw more than 500 people killed, including 60 children, and over 19,000 protesters jailed.
