Masoud Pezeshkian, who promised to open Iran to the world, decisively won the runoff and will become the country's ninth elected president.
The only moderate candidate in the race received 53.7 percent of the vote, or 16.3 million of the more than 30 million ballots cast. His rival Saeed Jalili received 44.3 percent, or 13.5 million.
On Saturday, Pezeshkian acknowledged that “the road ahead is difficult,” but he extended his hand to all Iranians. “I extend my hand to you and I swear on my honor that I will not leave you alone on this path. Do not leave me alone.”
World leaders congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory.
Russia
President Vladimir Putin congratulated Pezeshkian and said he hoped this would contribute to Russia-Iran relations.
“I hope that your term as president will contribute to strengthening constructive bilateral cooperation between our friendly peoples,” Putin said.
Ahead of the election, Putin met with Iranian interim President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Russia and Iran have been negotiating a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Saudi Arabia
King Salman and the crown prince congratulated Pezeshkian, state news agency SPA reported.
“I affirm my interest in developing and deepening relations between our countries and peoples and serving our mutual interests,” said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations in a China-brokered deal after years of tensions. They have since increased regular contact in an effort to strengthen ties.
Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Pezeshkian's electoral success and said Azerbaijan attaches “great importance” to relations with Iran.
“I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will ensure further strengthening of traditional friendly relations and expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in line with the interests of our peoples and countries,” Aliyev said, while inviting Pezeshkian to visit.
Iran's elections were scheduled for 2025 but were held early after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area on the Iran-Azerbaijan border on May 19, following a meeting with Aliyev to inaugurate a joint dam project.
Venezuela
Foreign Minister Yvan Gil congratulated Iran for its “demonstrated commitment to democracy” during the two rounds of the presidential vote.
“Venezuela expresses its conviction that the decision adopted by the Iranian people will contribute to the prosperity of this nation, as well as to its consolidation as an emerging power in the emerging multipolar world,” Gil's statement reads.
Pezeshkian will have the “absolute support” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government with the aim of expanding relations and continuing to defeat “the hegemonic pretensions that threaten multilateralism and world peace.”
Iran and Venezuela are close allies and signed a 20-year strategic cooperation plan in 2022 during a visit by Maduro to Tehran.
Porcelain
In his message to Pezeshkian, President Xi Jinping said: “I attach great importance to the development of China-Iran relations and am willing to work with the president to lead the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership toward deeper advancement.”
The two countries “have a long history of friendly exchanges, and bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development… for more than half a century,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“Facing complex regional and international situations, China and Iran have always supported each other, worked together and continued to consolidate strategic mutual trust,” he added.
India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to “working closely” with Pezeshkian “to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region.”
Congratulations @drpezeshkian Upon your election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2024
Iraq
President Abdul Latif Rashid congratulated both Iran and the president-elect, “wishing him success in his official duties and in fulfilling the ambitions and aspirations of the Iranian people.”
In a post on X, he said: “We affirm our interest in strengthening relations between Iraq and Iran in a way that serves the interests of the two neighboring countries and peoples.”
Pakistan
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he looked forward to working closely with Pezeshkian and promoting peace and stability in the region.
“As neighbouring countries, Pakistan and Iran enjoy a close and historic relationship. We must ensure a bright future for our two peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation,” he wrote in X.
My heartfelt congratulations to my brother Dr. Massoud Pezeshkian on his victory in the Iranian presidential election! I look forward to working closely with President-elect Dr. Pezeshkian to further strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran and promote regional peace and stability.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 6, 2024
Kuwait
In his congratulatory message, Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah wished Pezeshkian a long and healthy life and “further prosperity and development for the Islamic Republic.”
Syria
President Bashar al-Assad said Iran was “one of the most important countries with which we want to ensure that the relationship is at its highest point.”
“This relationship is based on roots established over decades of mutual respect, common understanding and firm principles to which Syria and Iran have always adhered.
“We will work with you to boost the Syrian-Iranian strategic relationship and open up new promising horizons for bilateral cooperation, as resistance will remain the common approach we will follow to preserve the pride of our countries and defend the interests of their peoples,” al-Assad added.
Qatar
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated Pezeshkian and wished him success and further development and prosperity of joint relations.
Belarus
President Aleksandr Lukashenko called Pezeshkian's victory “an unconditional victory of the Iranian people.”
“The results of the vote confirm his high political authority and testify to public support for the country’s leadership in defending Iran’s national interests, creating prospects for its citizens and cooperating with countries in its region,” Lukashenko told the Belta news agency.
“Dialogue between Minsk and Tehran at all levels is constantly expanding. I am convinced that in the near future we will be able to implement all the agreements reached, including those on raising the level of relations between Belarus and Iran to that of a strategic partnership.”
United Arab Emirates
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said he wished Pezeshkian “every success in his role” and looked forward to “working together to further strengthen ties between the UAE and Iran for the benefit of our two nations and peoples.”
The UAE has had trade ties with Tehran for decades, but upgraded relations in 2019 after downgrading them three years earlier. In April, the two countries held a joint meeting of the economic cooperation commission for the first time in a decade.
