Iran’s runoff election pits reformist Pezeshkian against hardliner Jalili: Mission Network News

By Katey Hearth

Iran (MNN) — Iranians head to the polls again today after the June 28 snap election failed to yield a majority winner.

Last week saw the lowest turnout in Iran’s history, with over 60 percent of voters withholding their ballots. Since no candidate got more than half the votes cast, the top two finishers advanced to a run-off election today.

Voters can choose either reformist Masoud Pezeshkian or hardliner Saeed Jalili. For some, the choice is “picking your poison” or selecting one bad option above another. Jalili strongly advocates the typical hardline platform, while Pezeshkian emphasizes social and political freedom.

Transform Iran’s Lana Silk says, “I didn’t expect Pezeshkian to get so far. I don’t think even the ruling authorities in Iran expected that.”

Pezeshkian may be running under a Reformist banner, but few voters see him as a champion for meaningful change.

“Remember, no one got to this point without being vetted by the Guardian Council. So, we’re calling him a reformist, but we’re talking about Iran here,” Silk says.

This is an Iran where ‘reformist’ doesn’t mean exactly what we mean when we talk about a reformist in the West. He’s still sympathetic to the cause of the government.

Whether men’s plans succeed or fail today, the Lord still holds Iran in His hands. Pray for His will to be done through today’s elections.

Most Iranians, including leaders like Pezeshkian and Jalili, lack a saving relationship with Christ. “These are people that Jesus died for, and He still wants to save them, even though they’ve (Pezeshkian and Jalili) done such incredibly horrible things. Let’s pray for their salvation,” Silk says.

“Let’s pray for change through peace, through repentance, and let’s pray for God’s will to be done.”

Visit Transform Iran’s website to learn how you can partner with Gospel workers in Iran.

Header image depicts presidential candidate Massoud Pezeshkian in the 2024 election debates. (Wikimedia Commons). Insert image depicts Saeed Jalili in a 2021 interview. (Wikimedia Commons)

Originally published on: Mission Network News