On Iran's President-Elect Dr Masoud Pezeshkian

Comment by Zaki Khalid

In just two months, Iran's President-Elect Dr Masoud Pezeshkian will turn 70, making him the oldest president to take office in the post-Pahlavi history of Iranian politics.

President-elect Dr Masoud is often described as a moderate and reformist by various regional and international media outlets on account of the fact that he is not a cleric. His unique profile and eclectic background set him apart from his predecessors. He is a highly respected heart surgeon and academic whose own children are also highly educated. He also has an impressive Google Scholar profile and a LinkedIn account, unlike most of his contemporaries.

During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Dr Masoud served on the front lines as a combat medic, aiding operations alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). After the war, he transitioned to academia in Tabrez city of East Azerbaijan Province, even though he was born and spent his early childhood in West Azerbaijan Province. In the early 1990s, he lost his wife and one daughter in a car accident after which Dr Masoud did not remarry and kept himself engaged in academic work, eventually leading Tabrez University of Medical Sciences.

Entering politics in the late 90s, Dr Masoud served as the Deputy Minister of Health and Medical Sciences and later, during the government of reformist President Syed Mohammad Khatami, as full Minister. He was praised for revamping Iran's emergency services and championing healthcare reforms aimed at making the system more people-friendly. His respect within the medical community has been unwavering.

A notable opponent of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Dr Masoud's political journey saw him elected to Iran's parliament, representing Tabrez. Although he attempted to run for president in 2011, he withdrew his nomination for reasons that remain unclear. By 2016, he chaired the Fracsiyoon Manaatiq Turk-Nasheen or 'Fraction of Turkic Regions' in parliament, a united front for effective representation of ethnic minorities.

This aspect of his identity is crucial. Unlike previous Iranian presidents, Dr Masoud is Iranian Azerbaijani, with his father being Azeri and his mother Kurdish. This background has made him a vocal advocate for the rights and representation of Iran's ethnic minorities including the Azerbaijanis, Assyrians, Kurds and Baloch, among others.

He wanted to properly contest for the 2021 election but was barred, along with other candidates, ostensibly on instructions from the Supreme Leader to smoothen late Ebrahim Raisi’s election as President

His stance on Iran's international policies is also noteworthy. He supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by Hassan Rouhani's government but has equally criticised American policies which he believes are aimed at diplomatically and economically isolating Iran. He calls for greater self-sufficiency in the sciences and industries to counteract international sanctions. Additionally, he has expressed vocal concerns about the brain drain of medical professionals from Iran, which he views as detrimental to the nation’s future.

Despite his critical perspective on many issues, Dr Masoud is careful not to jeopardise his relationship with the IRGC, an influential military faction in Iran. His balancing act was evident when he wore the IRGC uniform in parliament a few years ago to demonstrate his loyalty. His subtle criticisms often target the excessive powers of the Supreme Leader's office but he chooses his words wisely to avoid crossing red lines. He has also spoken against censorship, arguing that restricting access to the Internet hinders technological modernisation in fields such as Artificial Intelligence which he believes is essential for Iran’s progress.

However, despite his apparent dislike for the 'system', his own political record is not free of controversies, and both coincidentally involve young women. In 2003, as Minister of Health and Medical Sciences, he was accused of covering up the custodial torture and death of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi through fake autopsy reports. More recently, he took a stand against the mishandling of Mahsa Amini's case, only to make a dramatic U-turn and later condemn the protesters, thereby aligning with the government’s narrative.

Time will tell whether President-elect Dr Masoud has the willingness to take significant risks. His presidency coincides with the hunt for a potent replacement of the Supreme Leader, adding another layer of complexity to his tenure. Dr Masoud, in comments to the press, has acknowledged on record that he is aware of the historically-low voter turnout in the recent elections and that his victory still represents less than half of the Iranian people's interest. He may have sensed that the Iranian people are largely frustrated by what the current 'system' has to offer so he will have to tread cautiously, neither bloating about lofty ambitions nor risking under-deliverance to shake the foundations of his own uncertain influence.

Despite all this, Dr Masoud's educational background and intellectual prowess hold the potential to steer Iran toward meaningful negotiations and engagement with the world, much like during Hassan Rouhani’s administration. He could benefit from the counsel of Javad Zarif who has been among his ardent supporters. Within the region, his ethnic background could help the country reach a thorough rapprochement with Azerbaijan in view of larger geostrategic interests and perhaps also engage in meaningful conversations on the 'shared Baloch issue' with leaders in Pakistan.

As Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Dr Masoud tried to facilitate discussions that could pass down more executive powers to Rouhani from the Supreme Leader's office; efforts which evidently failed. He might replicate the same for his own term in office because as a soon-to-be septuagenarian, time is not on his side.

Dr Masoud's election to office as President may be a 'breath of fresh air' to many but cautious optimism is what most pragmatic observers insist on.