Iran’s Presidential Election; Who Are the Front-runners for Presidency?

Among the six candidates for Iran’s presidential election, Qalibaf, Jalili, and Pezeshkian stand out as the front-runners who have more chance of getting most of the votes in Iran’s election day on June 28.

In less than nine days, Iran will hold an early and unexpected presidential election to choose the successor to late president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash last month.

The event is important due to Iran’s role in regional and global developments, and for this very reason, the world is closely observing who will rise to power as the next president of the Islamic Republic.

Who are the front-runners?

As only six candidates could make it to the presidential race, different reports from in and out of Iran have suggested that three of the candidates seem to have more chance of getting the majority of votes and become Iran’s next president.

Qalibaf

Among the six candidates, Qalibaf, Jalili and Pezeshkian are seen as the front-runners, with the first two of them having most likely to align with the supreme leader’s criteria.

The one with the highest chance is Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. His career trajectory, from serving in the IRGC to becoming the first military commander elected as mayor of Tehran and later the speaker of the Iranian parliament, underscores his experience in running high-ranking offices. Qalibaf is considered by the media as a moderate conservative who is loyal to the principles of the Islamic Republic but at the same time, is open to moderate changes.

Jalili

Similarly, Saeed Jalili is a conservative but in its deepest sense. He is in fact an ultraconservative who hold high value and esteem for the root principles of the Islamic Revolution.

Serving as the former chief nuclear negotiator of Iran, Jalili has significant credentials, including running the supreme leader’s office for several years.

For his loyal service during Iran-Iraq war during which Jalili lost one of his legs, he is often referred to as “a living martyr.” Jalili was also Khamenei’s personal representative on the Supreme National Security Council for some time. Both these candidates embody the ideological purity and loyalty valued by the supreme leader, making them strong contenders in the upcoming election.

Although Qalibaf is not expected to venture far from the policies of the late president Raisi, Jalili would be more likely to maintain his predecessor’s hard-liner stance in foreign and domestic issues.

Pezeshkian

Unlike is two competitors, Masoud Pezeshkian is a reformist who believes in fundamental changes in Iran’s foreign and domestic polices inside the frame of the Islamic Republic.

Pezeshkian served several times as a lawmaker in Iran’s Parliament, and as Iran’s First Deputy Speaker from 2016 to 2020. He was also Minister of Health between 2001 and 2005 in the cabinet of former President Mohammad Khatami.

Different reports suggest that the main competition is between Pezeshkian and Qalibaf and if the turnout is above 60 percent, then Pezeshkian would have a good chance over Qalibaf and can rise to power. His unique rhetoric, status as a new candidate, and support from the reformists can very well contribute to his appeal.