A heart surgeon becomes Iran's president
The moderate candidate Massud Peseschkian defeated Hardliner Said Jalili in the elections in Iran. But who is the man that many people in Iran affectionately call "Doctor," and who faces challenging tasks?
Massud Peseschkian was no one's choice until recently. Despite his limited government experience, the sole candidate from the Reformer Camp won the Presidency of Iran. Fifty-four percent of voters cast their ballots for the "Doctor," as many Iranians simply call the heart surgeon Peseschkian with love.
Peseschkian hails from the northwestern border province of West Azerbaijan. He was born in the city of Mahabad in 1954 to an Iranian father with Turkish roots and a Kurdish mother. His origin predisposes him to represent minorities. Besides Persian, Peseschkian speaks Azerbaijani and Kurdish.
Peseschkian raised three children alone after his wife and one of his children were killed in a car accident in 1993. During his campaign, the 69-year-old appeared humble and pledged to serve as President for the most vulnerable members of society. He urged his supporters to vote for him to save "the country from poverty, lies, discrimination, and injustice."
Measured Criticism
"I extend my hand to the Iranian people," Peseschkian said after his victory. "The election is the beginning of a 'partnership' with the Iranian people. The difficult path ahead can only be traversed with your companionship, your empathy, and your trust," he added.
Peseschkian received support for his presidential campaign from former moderate Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, as well as former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who is known as the architect of the nuclear deal with the West.
Peseschkian served as Health Minister under Khatami from 2001 to 2005. Since 2008, he has represented the northern Iranian city of Tabriz in the parliament. As a parliamentarian, he was known for his government-critical statements. During the nationwide mass protests that erupted in September 2022 following the death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody after being arrested for alleged violations of strict Islamic dress codes, he criticized the authorities' handling of the situation.
During the campaign, he presented himself as an advocate for an internal politically liberal course. He spoke out against violent police intervention when women did not wear the Islamic veil properly. He is against "every violent and inhumane behavior," he said - "especially towards our sisters and daughters, and we will not allow such acts to recur."
Cautious Approach to the USA
"I will not position Iran as anti-Western or anti-Eastern," Peseschkian announced. His declared goal, however, is to bring Iran out of isolation. Since the beginning of the campaign, he has spoken in favor of easing relations with the West, particularly with the USA.
Peseschkian will achieve a relaxation of the sanctions in this way, which have heavily affected Iran's economy and citizens. For this purpose, he even intends to revive the talks with the West about the Iranian nuclear program, which have been stuck in a dead-end since the US withdrawal from the Atom Accord in 2018.
However, all announcements by the 69-year-old come with a decisive hook: The real political power in Iran does not lie with the President, but with the spiritual leader – and that is with the ultraconservative Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In the realm of international politics, former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, known for his role in the nuclear deal with the West, voiced his support for Massud Peseschkian's Iranian presidential campaign. This nuclear program, a significant aspect of Iran's foreign relations, could potentially be revived under Peseschkian's presidency, as he has expressed interest in improving relations with the USA and easing sanctions.
Facing a challenging task as the newly elected President of Iran, Massud Peseschkian, often referred to as "Doctor" by the Iranian people, must navigate the complexities of the Iranian nuclear program within the context of political elections and the influential role of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's spiritual leader.
