Iran’s reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday won a runoff presidential election against ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the interior ministry said.
Pezeshkian received more than 16 million votes and Jalili more than 13 million out of about 30 million votes cast, electoral authority spokesman Mohsen Eslami said, adding that voter turnout stood at 49.8 per cent.
The number of spoiled or voided ballots was reported to be over 600,000.
Pezeshkian said the vote was the start of a “partnership” with the Iranian people.
“The difficult path ahead will not be smooth except with your companionship, empathy, and trust. I extend my hand to you,” Pezeshkian said in a post on social media platform X, after on Tuesday saying he would “extend the hand of friendship to everyone” if he won.
The election, held early following the death of ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, comes after a first round with historically low turnout last week.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority, urged for higher participation in the runoff, stressing the election’s significance. He acknowledged the lower-than-expected turnout in the first round but stated it was not an act “against the system.”
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