Reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran's presidential election

Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian has won Iran’s presidential election, the Iranian state news agency Press TV reported Saturday, citing the country’s election headquarters. He defeated his hardline rival in a pivotal vote during a time of domestic and international tensions.

Out of the 30.5 million votes counted in Friday’s runoff, Pezeshkian secured over 16.3 million, narrowly beating his ultraconservative opponent Saeed Jalili, who received more than 13.5 million votes, according to Press TV. The voter turnout was 49.8%, as reported by Press TV, citing the election headquarters under the interior ministry.

Pezeshkian, in his campaign, promised no radical changes to Iran's Shiite theocracy and has long regarded Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the ultimate authority on all state matters.

Despite Pezeshkian's victory, Iran remains in a delicate situation, with high tensions in the Mideast over the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, the country's advancing nuclear program, and an upcoming U.S. election that could jeopardize any potential detente between Tehran and Washington.

The snap election that brought Pezeshkian to power occurred after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May in Iran’s remote northwest, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials. Pezeshkian was the only reformist candidate permitted to run for the top elected position after many others were barred.

While the president holds some powers in Iran, the Supreme Leader retains ultimate authority and has the final say on all state matters.