The only moderate presidential candidate on the ballot paper in Iran has taken a shock lead in opinion polls – putting him ahead of an anti-West cleric as the country votes today.
Massoud Pezeshkian is a wildcard in the race and has condemned the violent attacks on women by the regime’s morality police, who enforce the strict dress codes, calling them ‘immoral’.
The 69-year-old reformist has said: ‘If wearing certain clothes is a sin, the behaviour towards women and girls is 100 times a greater sin. Nowhere in religion is there any permission to confront someone because of their clothing.’
Despite being faithful to the country’s theocratic rule, Pezeshkian has received a huge wave of support from voters desperate to snub the regime of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile his hardline rivals Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and Saeed Jalili, a hardline former nuclear negotiator, are trailing behind, as Iranians rile against the conservative Ayatollah.
Massoud Pezeshkian is a wildcard in the race, and has condemned the violent attacks on women by the regime’s morality police
Anti-west Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
Demonstrators burn a US and an Israeli flag during the funeral for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria
The polls are now open in the race to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi – Iran’s hardline president who died in a helicopter crash on a foggy mountainside last month.
The popularity of Pezeshkian, a former heart surgeon who is seen as being free from corruption, has sparked panic amongst hardliners.
In contrast with his hardline rivals, he advocates detente with the West, economic reform, social liberalisation and political pluralism.
According to the latest poll by the parliament’s research centre, cited by the Tasnim news website, Pezeshkian is projected to finish top with close to 30 percent.
It suggested that hardliner Jalili would take second place with the backing of 18.8 per cent of voters – ahead of Ghalibaf with 16.8 per cent.
His chances hinge on reviving the enthusiasm of reform-minded voters who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years after previous pragmatist presidents achieved little change.
He could also benefit from his rivals’ failure to consolidate the hardline vote.
An earlier poll by Iran’s government-funded ISPA on Wednesday put Pezeshkian in front with 33.1 per cent of the vote and Jalili and Ghalibaf with 28.8 and 19.1 per cent respectively.
Saeed Jalili, one of the conservative candidates in Iran’s June 28 presidential election
There is concern that the two hardliners could split the conservative vote, with two ultra-conservative candidates dropping out earlier this week in order to consolidate it.
Turnout is expected to hit a new low as the regime faces a wave of anger and disillusionment, with many saying they don’t trust the diplomatic process.
It comes after huge protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody in 2022, further widening the gulf between Iran’s leaders and its people.
The hashtag #ElectionCircus has been widely posted on social media platform X by Iranians in the past few weeks, with some activists at home and abroad calling for an election boycott, arguing that a high turnout would legitimise the Islamic Republic.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to the media after casting his vote during the presidential election in Tehran
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to the media after casting his vote during the presidential election in Tehran
Observers have raised concerns that the election may be rigged, with claims that Pezeshkian was only allowed on the ballot simply to ‘legitimise’ the vote and increase turnout.
Iran’s supreme leader called on the public to vote in the snap election, saying in brief remarks: ‘I don’t see any reason for doubt.
Khamenei said a high turnout was a ‘definite need’ for the Islamic Republic. He also called the election an ‘important political test.’
Raisi, 63, had been seen as a protégé of Khamenei and a possible successor for the supreme leader position in Iran, which has final say over all matters of state in the Shiite theocracy.
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