Veteran parliamentarian and former health minister Masoud Pezeshkian won the second round of the presidential elections in Iran, defeating Saeed Jalili, former negotiator on the nuclear file, in a tough competition. The second round of voting began on July 5 and was extended thrice, each time for two hours, due to a high voter turnout of 49.8% (compared to 40% in the first round). The spokesperson for the election headquarters, Mohsen Eslami, summed up the results, saying that Pezeshkian secured 16,384,403 votes, while Jalili received 13,538,179 of the more than 30 million votes cast.

Who is Masoud Pezeshkian?

After completing his medical education in 1985, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian initially started teaching physiology at the university level. In 1990, Dr Pezeshkian received a specialisation in general surgery from Tabriz University, which marked the beginning of his path to becoming a famous cardiac surgeon. After that, he continued studying cardiac surgery at the Iran University of Medical Sciences, successfully obtaining his degree in 1993.

Former Minister of Health Alireza Marandi recognised his experience and leadership qualities by appointing Pezeshkian Head of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, a position he held with distinction until 2000. At a crucial moment in his career, Dr Pezeshkian was appointed Deputy Minister and then Minister of Health in Tehran under the administration of President Mohammad Khatami.

After his tenure as minister, Pezeshkian decided to involve himself fully in the field of politics. He successfully ran for the Iranian parliament, becoming a representative of Tabriz, Azarshahr and Osku. His dedication to serving the people and advocating for healthcare........

© New Eastern Outlook