Reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian was elected Iran’s new president on July 5, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds the highest power in the country, the presidency carries some influence and the reformist victory has revived hopes of change. This could have implications for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s relations with neighboring Pakistan amid growing speculation that Iran under Pezeshkian may open up more to the West.
Pezeshkian, who is due to be sworn in on July 30, is the only moderate among the six candidates in the race, which could point to a reset for Iran. Addressing supporters in Tehran after the election, the president-elect said he would work closely with parliament and the judiciary to “get through the crisis.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory in a telephone conversation on July 8. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the deep ties between Pakistan and Iran and said he wanted to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, energy and regional security, and Pezeshkian also expressed his desire to deepen bilateral ties, according to a transcript of the call released by Sharif’s office.
Islamabad will be keen to gauge Tehran’s latest moves as Iran’s foreign policy directly impacts Pakistan’s border security dynamics, prospects for economic cooperation, and diplomatic ties with China and Arab countries.
