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ABSTRACT
Elections in Iran are considered to be an exercise conducted by the ruling regime as a show to prove its legitimacy and popularity among the common masses. It is because the president in Iran, unlike other states, is not a head of state; instead the power is vested in the hands of the Supreme Leader. On the other hand, the Iranian constitution gives the president the executive powers, while the Supreme Leader is responsible for marking the redlines of the political system. Hence, by default, any individual that ascends to the seat of presidency would be loyal to the Supreme Leader and by extension, to the Iranian system regardless of its political affiliation. Nonetheless, many experts based in the Western capitals often misinterpret the victory of the pro-reform faction as a success of anti-state sentiments in Iran. The victory of Masoud Pezeshkian, a pro-reform figure in Iran’s presidential elections is seen as a potential rift between the state’s vision and people’s choice. To understand these political dynamics in Iran, it is imperative to analyse the 2024 presidential elections of Iran.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).