Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian elected Iran's president

Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian was elected Iran's new president, winning 53.3% of the vote, against hardline conservative Saeed Jalili’s 44.3%.

The election followed a historically low 40% voter turnout in the first round on June 28. The election was called after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a May helicopter crash.

Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon, is critical of Iran's morality police and advocates for "unity and cohesion" and renewing the 2015 nuclear deal. Jalili, a hardline anti-Western former nuclear negotiator, opposes the deal.

Voter turnout increased to 50% amid fears of increased isolation under Jalili’s presidency.

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