Iran's president-elect faced challenges from day one

Presidential runner-up, Saeed Jalili, Iran's former nuclear negotiator and the ultraconservative contender, congratulated the incoming president. “As before, I consider it my duty to support the new government in overcoming challenges and achieving the nation's development goals,” Jalili stated.

Alireza Zakani, another former contender and Tehran Mayor also congratulated Pezeshkian and recognized the significance of the election as a “testament to religious democracy,” echoing Jalili’s comments and overall state line.

Zakani, who had earlier withdrawn from the race, urged government unity as news of the new cabinet awaits. He stated, "Now, I present all my plans, which have been written with the support of a large group of elites, to the elected president, and knowing the heavy burden of the government, it is expected that the elected president will choose a strong and capable cabinet."

Additionally, former President Hassan Rouhani, a notable supporter of Pezeshkian, extended his congratulations to the first reformist president to be elected in two decades. Rouhani underscored that the people's vote reflected a clear mandate for constructive engagement with the international community and a revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed during Rouhani’s tenure.

He emphasized that the new administration "is not a continuation of previous administrations", refuting claims by other candidates that Pezeshkian’s government would simply continue his policies. He also highlighted the importance of addressing the concerns of those who abstained from voting, urging the new administration to work inclusively.

As Pezeshkian prepares to take office, he now faces the challenges of a nation grappling with an inflation rate of around 50% with its national currency, the rial, having depreciated 15-fold since 2018 driving millions of Iranians into poverty.

With sanctions causing around $1.2 trillion in damages from 2011 to 2023, experts argue another critical challenge for the newly elected president will be making strategic foreign policy decisions to lift US sanctions.

Amid widespread anti-Islamic Republic sentiment following Iran's 2022 nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody, Pezeshkian must now address the country's human rights issues.

This is especially critical given the intensified crackdown on women's rights and mandatory hijab laws, directed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to whom Pezeshkian has consistently declared loyalty throughout his campaign.

Despite the significant role of the president, the ultimate power in Iran rests with Khamenei who holds authority over all branches of government, including the military and judiciary. Regardless of the president, his influence shapes the direction of the country’s domestic and foreign policies.

Why did the Arab League’s decision come on the heels of a potential war between Israel and Southern Lebanon? And does the low voter turnout in Iran's recent election signify a distrust in the ruling system?

Host Negar Mojtahedi speaks with Roya Boroumand, the Co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and Dr. Walid Phares, a foreign policy expert on those topics.

When it comes to the Arab league's decision, Phares, who has has advised US presidential candidates, said Washington and the Iran lobby have a big role to play, in his view.

"It's all about the weakness that Washington is showing in international relations," said Phares on 'Eye for Iran.'

Phares believes that stems from influence by the Iran lobby in D.C.

"Those who are forming the Abraham Accord and the Arab coalition are telling the Israelis, look, guys, I mean, we cannot sustain this if the US administration is not even helping you. What do you want us to do? So that's one part. Another part of the Arab League, like the Syrian Assad regime or the Iraqis, who are very close to the Iranian regime or even the Lebanese government under the influence of Hezbollah. Yeah, they're saying we are winning."

In terms of Iran's internal politics, the historically low voter turnout in the first round of the country's presidential elections, signifies a "vote of distrust" according to human rights advocate Roya Boroumand.

"The low turnout means that people don't believe in the legitimacy of the elections. And that is a good analysis because people are much more informed now that they used to be 20 years ago or 30 years ago," said Boroumand.

You can watch the entire episode on Iran's International's YouTube Page or listen to it on Spotify, Apple or Amazon.

Mowlavi Abdolhamid, who abstained from voting in Iran's presidential election this year, highlighted the "disgust" among the public, demonstrated by the record-low turnout in the first round of the votes.

The June 28 presidential election saw a voter turnout of 39.92%, the lowest in the history of the Islamic Republic. In the runoff votes held on July 5, the official figures showed a 10-percent rise in the number of voters, but still over 50 percent of eligible voters boycotted the election.

This significant absence signals a stark "discontent" with unbalanced and inconsistent governmental policies, Abdulhamid said, according to a readout of his speech published by Halvash human rights organization.

The top Sunni cleric said the nation, "overwhelmed" by political, economic, and social pressures, and where the lower classes feel "crushed," will persist in its demands for "justice" and "freedom."

Abdolhamid, expressing deep concern over the political stalemate and lack of representation for the Sunni and Baluch communities, described the situation as a "deadlock," underscoring the need for a profound shift in public sentiment away from traditional conservative and reformist politics. Despite his reservations, he acknowledged Pezeshkian's “victory.”

Known for his forthright opposition to the government, especially after the crackdown in Zahedan on September 30, 2022, Abdolhamid has faced risks and criticism for his stance against the Supreme Leader's policies, especially regarding the treatment of protestors.

His advocacy for ending executions and harsh decrees has positioned him as a contentious figure, facing accusations from conservative factions of aiding the "enemies" of Iran.

"The people of Iran will view any attempts to appease this new lackey (Masoud Pezeshkian) as a treacherous offense to their ongoing movement for liberation and a shameful abdication of moral leadership," Prince Reza Pahlavi said in a post on his X account on Saturday.

Masoud Pezeshkian won the July 5th runoff election with a turnout of less than 50%. In his first post-election speech, he thanked Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying, "If it wasn't for him, I don't think my name would have easily come out of these (ballot) boxes."

Prince Reza Pahlavi referred to the election as a "fraudulent" attempt to legitimize a dictatorship, highlighting the Iranian nation’s rejection of the process.

He said Khamenei’s choice of Pezeshkian as the president and "chief functionary" would not save the Islamic Republic from its "inevitable" collapse and the Iranian people's "certain" victory.

Pahlavi also praised Iranian people for boycotting the election, calling it a "historic" display of national unity and solidarity and a "watershed moment" in the Iranian nation's movement.

He noted that this was the largest display of "nonviolent, civil resistance" against the Islamic Republic in 45 years and emphasized that this is just the beginning of their path to national liberation.

The first round of Iran's snap presidential election saw a voter turnout of 39.92%, the lowest in the history of the Islamic Republic. In the runoff votes, the official figures show a 10-percent rise in the number of voters, but still over 50 percent of eligible voters boycotted the election.

“Masoud Pezeshkian, a candidate close to reformists, became the President in an election where the majority of people did not participate,” she wrote in a post on Instagram on Saturday, highlighting the historically low voter turnout.

Ebadi asserted that Pezeshkian has assumed office amid a backdrop of political and security puzzles following the death of hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. She added that Pezeshkian’s presidency is “another step for a third defeat of reformists,” referring to the failures of the two previous 'reformist' presidents, Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, to address the country's woes.

She questioned whether the 'reformists' will now address the concerns of Iranians. Ebadi raised issues such as whether internet restrictions would be lifted or further tightened, and addressed the dire working conditions of workers across multiple sectors in Iran struggling to make ends meet. She further asked whether the quality of life, particularly for impoverished ethnic minorities in Iran's eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province and Kurdistan province in the northwest, would improve, and if the country's resources would be better managed to ensure adequate water in southwestern Khuzestan province are addressed.

"The reformists and moderates entered the political arena to salvage the regime," Ebadi concluded underscoring that without fundamental changes, “the will of the people” could become a powerful force that challenges and potentially dismantles the Islamic Republic.