As Masoud Pezeshkian prepares to take over the post of Iranian president after defeating hard-liner Saeed Jalili, his people and the world leaders look with great expectations.
Faced with a crackdown on social liberties as essential as clothing, an expensive foreign policy, and toughening stance on nuclear deals with the West, the Iranian population required an urgent check on theocratic policies. With Raisi dead in a helicopter crash, Jalili would’ve served as an ideological successor. In such a circumstance, Pezeshkian presented a centrist alternative- promising domestic social reforms, and a more pragmatic foreign policy.
While a major section of the Iranian population, including several activists boycotted the elections in protest against the state’s handling of Mahsa Amini’s death, the ones who voted, did so for checking the rabid orders of Supreme leader- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian thus won with 16.3 million votes for his modest governance approach.
What does the World expect from Pezeshkian?
Congratulating the surgeon-turned-President on the feat, world leaders from Singapore, Japan, Russia, China, India, and several other countries have expressed renewed hope. Welcoming Pezeshkian’s centrist stances, they look forward to strengthening bilateral relations, and renewing a nuclear deal to prevent the state from taking rouge steps in the direction. Its leveraging of uranium to weapon-grade-levels is also expected to slow down.
While his aims for “opening Iran to the world” have attracted support from most countries of the Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, and UAE- Israel remains out of the list of wishers. Israeli media rather views the calls for “reform” under Pezeshkian as naive.
Can the new regime change Iran’s relations with Israel?
Pessimism from Israel towards the regime change in Iran stems from several political and historical factors. The support of the theocratic Islamic Revolutionary Guard Cops for Pezeshkian, and his limited intent to challenge their authority, top the list. Under the eye of the hard-lining supreme leader, a reduction in support for militia, or slowing of weapons supply to regional allies cannot be expected. Any change in the armed circling of Israel, and the Gaza conflict thus, must not be expected.
Further, a balancing of ties with Russia-China on the one hand, and West on the other can put Iran in a new geopolitical position. While Israel expects it to be an exercise in vain- with Iran’s weapon supply to be enhanced through Russia, and inconclusive conversations to be carried with the USA. An optimistic perspective may, however, point differently. Such new forms of cooperation may broker a nuclear deal that balances the aspirations of Iran and the West. Given the USA’s rigid stance on islamic militia, and Pezeshkian’s narrow influence on nuclear matters- the probability of such a transformation stands low.
However, Reuters reports that the President elect’s policy tone at home will influence the world view towards Iran, and will also play a crucial role in deciding Khanei’s successor.
Will Iran see a ‘reform’ in domestic policies?
Having questioned the state’s abusive behaviour towards women in the backdrop of Mahasa Amini’s case, Pezeshkian has a history of social activism. Though he pays allegiance to the theocratic state principles, yet he aims to soften the surveillance mechanisms for protecting people’s dignity of life.
With promises to “extend hand to all Iranians”, majority of whom took to the streets of Tehran to celebrate the victory of the modest leader- Pezeshkian hopes to remove the internet restrictions, alongside checking state’s corrupt practices and financial opaqueness.
His aims for administrative transparency, social equity, and end to global isolationism have thus emitted stained rays of hope. Iranians do not expect radical changes, rather simply a reversion to “Iran as it was”.
