Who is Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s new ‘reformist’ president-elect

His win marks a departure from Raisi’s, who, as a protege of Khamenei, tightened dress codes for women and took a firm stance in now-dormant talks to revive the nuclear deal.

Supporters hold posters of Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian during a campaign event in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)

Who is he?

Born on September 29, 1954, in Mahabad, northwestern Iran, to an Azeri father and Kurdish mother, Pezeshkian is a cardiac surgeon and former health minister who served during the Iran-Iraq war, dispatching medical teams to the front lines.

He ran for president twice before, in 2013 and 2021, without success. A tragic car accident in 1994 claimed his wife and daughter, and since then, he has raised his three remaining children alone.

Emerging from political isolation, the reformist camp, led by former President Mohammad Khatami, endorsed Pezeshkian following Raisi’s death.

Pezeshkian, fluent in Azeri, Farsi, and Kurdish, is the first president from western Iran in decades. His presidency is celebrated by those hoping for a more tolerant regime, given the region’s significant religious and ethnic diversity.

“My supporters come from all sides, even those who do not pray,” he declared during a recent presidential debate, though this stance has made him a target for xenophobic attacks by some opponents.

Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili ​attend an election debate at a television studio in Tehran. (Reuters)

In 2022, Pezeshkian called for authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini. She died in custody following her arrest for allegedly violating a law on women’s dress, an incident that ignited months of unrest nationwide.

While acknowledging Iran’s Shiite theocracy, Pezeshkian assured no radical changes and recognised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the ultimate authority on state matters.

Under Iran’s dual system of clerical and republican rule, the president cannot enact major policy shifts on nuclear matters or militia support, as Khamenei holds sway over state affairs.

But, the president can significantly influence Iran’s policy direction and will play a crucial role in choosing Khamenei’s successor, who is currently 85 years old.

In a period of heightened tensions with Israel and Western allies, compounded by nuclear advances and impending US elections, Pezeshkian’s leadership promises continuity.

“To the people of Iran, the elections are over and our collaboration begins,” Pezeshkian wrote on the banned social platform X. “The challenging road ahead demands your support, empathy, and trust. I extend my hand to you and pledge to stand by your side every step of the way.”

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