Iran’s June 28 presidential elections failed to see any of the four candidates receive the required vote of 50% plus 1 to achieve victory in the first round, thereby forcing elections into a runoff between the two highest vote getters, which will take place on July 5, reported Sputnik today, citing coverage by Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Former Health Minister Masoud Pezeshkian secured 10.4 million votes, narrowly beating Saeed Jalili, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, who received 9.4 million votes. Some 24.5 million votes were cast in total, with more than 60% of voters abstaining. The election drew an even smaller turnout than last year, when only 48% voted. Prior to the election, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had encouraged a strong turnout.
Pezeshkian is reported to be a moderate reformist, whereas Kalili is said to be a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The election followed the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.
