Reformer Peseshkian wins election for presidency in Iran
The election was brought forward, following the fatal helicopter accident on May 19 that claimed the life of incumbent Ebrahim Raisi. Peseschkian emerged victorious in the runoff, as none of the candidates had secured the necessary majority in the previous round of voting held the previous week. Voter turnout in the first round had been a record low of just 40%, the lowest since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. A total of 61 million citizens were called to vote.
The election took place against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions due to the war in Gaza, a dispute with the West over the Iranian nuclear program, and growing discontent in the country regarding the state of the economy under sanctions.
In the unexpected advancement of the Presidency elections, former Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili was among the contenders. Despite Peseschkian's victory in the run-off election, the initial round saw a surprising low turnout of only 40% citizens casting their votes, a record low since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Raisi's absence in the run-off election was due to the fatal helicopter accident that took his life on May 19.
