Middle East
Iranian reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian reacts after casting his ballot during the presidential runoff elections in Shareh Qods, west of Tehran on July 5, 2024. Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s president and prime minister on Saturday congratulated Iran’s reformist president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian on his election victory, saying they look forward to advancing Erbil-Tehran ties.
“I congratulate Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran … and we look forward to developing the long-standing friendly relations and continuing joint cooperation” with Tehran, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on X.
“Iran is an important neighbor to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We look forward to deepening cooperation based on good-neighborly relations and mutual respect,” said Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
Pezeshkian, the lone reformist candidate, won Iran’s run-off presidential election on Saturday. The vote was called following the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
He garnered over 53 percent of the vote, beating his ultraconservative rival Saeed Jalili.
In last week’s first round, Pezeshkian won 10.41 million votes, while Jalili garnered 9.47 million out of 24.5 million votes.
On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a higher turnout in the run-off election.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, who was also running for the position, won 3.38 million votes in the first round.
Ghalibaf called on his supporters to vote for Jalili in the run-off following his defeat, but Pezeshkian ultimarely emerged victorious. He was supported by a number of reformist officials who served under former president Hassan Rouhani’s administration, most notably high-profile former foreign minister Javad Zarif.
“I congratulate Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran … and we look forward to developing the long-standing friendly relations and continuing joint cooperation” with Tehran, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on X.
“Iran is an important neighbor to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We look forward to deepening cooperation based on good-neighborly relations and mutual respect,” said Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
Pezeshkian, the lone reformist candidate, won Iran’s run-off presidential election on Saturday. The vote was called following the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
He garnered over 53 percent of the vote, beating his ultraconservative rival Saeed Jalili.
In last week’s first round, Pezeshkian won 10.41 million votes, while Jalili garnered 9.47 million out of 24.5 million votes.
On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a higher turnout in the run-off election.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, who was also running for the position, won 3.38 million votes in the first round.
Ghalibaf called on his supporters to vote for Jalili in the run-off following his defeat, but Pezeshkian ultimarely emerged victorious. He was supported by a number of reformist officials who served under former president Hassan Rouhani’s administration, most notably high-profile former foreign minister Javad Zarif.
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