On Friday, Iranians will vote to select a new president from a pool of six candidates, including a single progressive aiming to contest the prevailing traditional influence in the Islamic Republic. Initially planned for 2025, the election was expedited following the death of ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident last month.
This abrupt election occurs amid substantial difficulties for Iran, including economic sanctions and escalated tensions from the Gaza conflict involving Israel and Tehran’s ally, Hamas. In April, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in response to an Israeli airstrike in Damascus that killed seven Revolutionary Guards.
Israel retaliated with a reported strike near Isfahan. This election also coincides with the upcoming U.S. presidential election, featuring Iran’s adversary and Israel’s strong ally. The leading candidates include traditional parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and progressive Massoud Pezeshkian.
Other candidates include traditional Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani, cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and incumbent vice president Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi, head of the Martyrs’ Foundation. The campaigns have been subdued, with televised debates focusing on economic issues and Iran’s foreign relations.
Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group highlighted that the new president must address the growing “fissure between the state and society,” though none of the candidates have offered concrete plans for these issues.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for “high participation” in the election, aiming to exceed the low turnout of just under 49% seen in the 2021 election when many progressive and moderate candidates were disqualified, leading to Raisi’s presidency.
Public opinion is split on whether voting will effectively tackle urgent issues like inflation and currency devaluation.
