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Moderate Pezeshkian wins Iran governmental election, prompts individuals to stick with him

Relative moderate Masoud Pezeshkian advised people on Saturday to stick to him on the. tough road ahead after beating a hardline competitor to win. Iran's presidential election.

Friday's run-off vote was between Pezeshkian, the sole. moderate in the original field of 4 candidates, and hardline. former nuclear arbitrator Saeed Jalili.

Pezeshkian

, a 69-year-old cardiac cosmetic surgeon, has pledged to promote a. practical diplomacy, ease stress over now-stalled. settlements with significant powers to revive a 2015 nuclear pact and. enhance potential customers for social liberalisation and political. pluralism.

However many Iranians are sceptical about his ability to. fulfil his campaign promises as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali. Khamenei, not the president, is the supreme authority in the. Islamic Republic.

Dear individuals of Iran, the election is over, and this is simply. the beginning of our working together. A difficult roadway is. ahead. It can only be smooth with your cooperation, empathy and. trust, Pezeshkian said in a post on social media platform X.

I extend my hand to you and swear on my honour that I will. not abandon you on this course. Do not abandon me.

Turnout was nearly 50% in Friday's vote, following. historically low turnout in the first round ballot on June 28,. when over 60% of Iranian voters abstained. The election was. called after President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter. crash in May.

Pezeshkian managed to win with a constituency - whose core. was thought to be primarily the city middle class and young -. that had been widely disillusioned by years of security. crackdowns that suppressed any public dissent from Islamist. orthodoxy.

Videos on social networks revealed his fans dancing in. streets in lots of cities and towns across the nation and. vehicle drivers beeping automobile horns to cheer his victory.

DIPLOMACY

Pezeshkian's success lifted hopes of a thaw in Iran's. relations with the West that might produce openings for defusing. its nuclear conflict with world powers.

The election coincided with escalating regional stress due. to the disputes between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza. and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure. on Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear programme.

Under Iran's double system of clerical and republican rule,. the president can not introduce any major policy shift on Iran's. nuclear program or assistance for militia groups throughout the. Middle East, given that Khamenei calls all the shots on top state. matters.

However, the president can affect the tone of Iran's. policy and he will be closely involved in choosing the. successor to Khamenei, now 85.

Backed by Iran's reformist camp led by former President. Mohammad Khatami, Pezeshkian is devoted to Iran's theocratic. rule and has no objective of confronting the powerful security. hawks and clerical rulers.

(source: Reuters)