Iran Votes for New President in Snap Poll Amid Rising Mideast Tensions

Iranians participated in a snap election on Friday to elect a new president following the death of hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi. The election saw voters choosing between hard-line candidates and the lone reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon. Women and advocates for radical change were barred from running, and there was no international oversight of the vote.

Pezeshkian, who voted at a hospital near Tehran, responded to questions about Iran's future relations with the West. "God willing, we will try to have friendly relations with all countries except Israel," said the 69-year-old candidate. Israel has long been Iran's regional adversary and faces widespread criticism in the Middle East over its ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Middle East Tensions

The election took place amid heightened tensions in the Middle East due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel over the conflict. Militia groups supported by Tehran, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, have also escalated their attacks.

Iran continues to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels and maintains a stockpile sufficient to build several nuclear weapons if it chooses. This ongoing enrichment has raised concerns among international observers about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Public Apathy and Reformist Hopes

Pezeshkian's comments aimed to boost voter turnout amid widespread public apathy due to economic struggles and past protests. He hoped that suggesting Iran could emerge from isolation would motivate disillusioned voters. Higher turnout typically benefits reformists like Pezeshkian, who seek to change Iran's Shiite theocracy from within.

Despite Ayatollah Ali Khamenei having the final say on state matters, presidents can influence policies towards either confrontation or negotiation with the West. However, given recent record-low turnouts, it remains uncertain how many Iranians participated in Friday's poll.

Election Dynamics

The race is broadly seen as a three-way contest between two hard-liners—former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf—and Pezeshkian. A Shiite cleric, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, remains in the race despite poor polling.

Pezeshkian has aligned himself with figures like former President Hassan Rouhani, under whose administration Iran struck the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. His remarks after voting appeared aimed at energising supporters by promising friendlier international relations.

Social Media Influence

Pezeshkian may have relied on social media to spread his message since all television broadcasters in Iran are state-controlled and run by hard-liners. However, it is unclear if he gained enough momentum to draw voters to the polls.

There have been calls for an election boycott from figures like imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, a leader of the 2009 Green Movement protests who remains under house arrest.

Election Day Observations

State media published images of voters lining up in Kerman near Soleimani's grave and broadcast images of polling places across Iran with modest lines. Observers noted low turnout at many polling centres in Tehran, similar to recent parliamentary elections.

Khamenei cast one of the first votes, stating, "People's turnout with enthusiasm, and higher number of voters — this is a definite need for the Islamic Republic." More than 61 million Iranians over 18 are eligible to vote, including about 18 million aged 18 to 30.

Extended Voting Hours

Voting continued into Friday night as hours were extended twice. Iranian state TV reported that polling stations would remain open until midnight to allow everyone to vote. As temperatures cooled in the evening, more people headed to vote, forming long lines at polling stations in downtown Tehran and southern parts of the city.

Potential Runoff

If no candidate receives more than 50% of votes cast, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff a week later. There has been only one runoff presidential election in Iran's history, in 2005 when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The late President Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19 that also killed Iran's foreign minister and others. Raisi was seen as a protégé of Khamenei and a potential successor as supreme leader but was also known for his role in mass executions in 1988 and crackdowns on dissent following protests over Mahsa Amini's death.