Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian

Early Life & Socio-Ethnic Roots

Masoud Pezeshkian was born on 29 September 1954 in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan, Iran — a region with significant Azeri and Kurdish populations. His father was ethnically Azeri, and his mother was Kurdish — a mix that made him culturally closer to Iran’s large but historically marginalized ethnic minorities.

He grew up in Urmia and Tabriz, cities with strong Azerbaijani cultural identity. This background shaped his inclusive worldview — unlike many Tehran-centric politicians, he speaks fluent Azeri and often advocates minority rights, giving him credibility among Iran’s Azeris (the country’s largest minority, nearly 16–20% of the population).

Medical Career & War Service

Pezeshkian studied medicine at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, graduating as a general physician before specializing in cardiothoracic surgery — a demanding field with a high social status in Iran.

During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88) — a defining national trauma that still shapes Iran’s security psyche — Pezeshkian organized medical teams near the front, earning respect for saving lives under fire. This service gave him “revolutionary credibility”, a currency that reformists often lack when dealing with Iran’s conservative establishment and powerful IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps).

Personal Tragedy

In 1994, he lost his wife and a daughter in a car accident, a devastating event that left him to raise his surviving children alone. Many Iranians view him as a man marked by suffering but also by quiet resilience — a trait that softens the image of politicians in a system often perceived as distant and dogmatic.

Entry into Politics Khatami Era

Pezeshkian’s first major political role came under President Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005), the father of Iran’s modern reform movement. Khatami’s era was about “Dialogue Among Civilizations” — a moderate, outreach-focused policy that contrasted with hardliners’ confrontational stance.

• 1997: Deputy Health Minister

• 2001–2005: Minister of Health and Medical Education

He championed expansion of public healthcare, medical modernization, and more equitable resource distribution in marginalized provinces.

Strengths, Constraints & Public Perception

• Strengths: Esteemed reformist with medical credibility and a history of personal integrity and tragedy; appeals to ethnic minorities and moderate thinkers.

• Constraints: Ultimate authority lies with Supreme Leader Khamenei; key security and foreign policy are controlled by IRGC and clerical institutions.

• Challenges: Tackling inflation (~40%), economic hardship, and entrenched conservative structures while maintaining moderate reform.

International Relations & Tensions

• Emphasizes dialogue over confrontation, expressing openness to U.S.–Iran dialogue but citing trust issues stemming from recent U.S. and Israeli military actions.

• In July 2025, accused Israel of attempting an airstrike assassination during a high-level security council meeting on 16 June; he was lightly injured escaping via an emergency hatch.

Parliamentary Power & Reformist Credentials

After leaving the cabinet, he successfully transitioned into the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) in 2006, representing Tabriz. He’s held this seat for five consecutive terms, something rare for reformists in Iran’s conservative-filtered election system.

In Parliament:

• Served as Deputy Speaker (2016–2020).

• A steady voice for civil liberties, minority inclusion, and government accountability.

• Criticized human rights abuses, including during the 2009 Green Movement, when millions protested alleged election fraud. He stood against the brutal crackdown, which damaged many reformists’ careers but earned him grassroots respect.

• After Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022, he was among the few parliamentarians to openly condemn the regime’s morality police for killing a young woman over hijab non-compliance. He called for structural change, not just superficial punishment.

The 2024 Election A Rare Opening

The snap 2024 election followed the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Pezeshkian became the sole prominent reformist allowed on the ballot — a sign that the Guardian Council, which vets candidates, permitted limited political diversity to contain unrest after years of protests and international isolation.

Backed by ex-Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Pezeshkian promised:

• Economic revival through Western engagement.

• Renewed nuclear diplomacy.

• Easing social controls on women and youth.

• Anti-corruption within state bureaucracy.

He won 53.7% in the runoff against Saeed Jalili, a hardline former nuclear negotiator.

Leadership Philosophy & Policy Goals

Pezeshkian identifies as a reformist-pragmatist, not a radical. His approach is gradual:

• Preserve the Islamic Republic, but adapt it to survive.

• Respect Supreme Leader Khamenei’s authority, but push the system’s limits through negotiation and consensus-building.

• He often says: “Change from within is possible — but only if people trust us to try.”

Outlook & Key Watchpoints

Priority Area	What to Look For
Nuclear Deal	Will he revive JCPOA-style negotiations and ease sanctions?
Social Reform	Will he dismantle the morality police and relax hijab rules?
Economy	Can he reduce inflation, boost growth, and improve living conditions?
Security	Will IRGC blocs accept his moderate approach, or attempt pushback?
Diplomacy	Will he extend an olive branch to the West while managing Israel/US tensions?

Key Priorities:

Revive Nuclear Talks:
He aims to lift US/EU sanctions choking Iran’s economy by restoring parts of the 2015 JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), abandoned by Trump in 2018. He supports diplomacy but lacks ultimate authority — nuclear talks are controlled by Khamenei and the IRGC.

Moderate Social Rules:
Wants softer enforcement of hijab rules and fewer morality police patrols. Reformists see forced veiling as a source of internal crisis. His cabinet includes allies pushing women’s rights carefully, though hardliners resist fiercely.

Ethnic Inclusion:
Seeks to address long-standing grievances among Azeris, Kurds, Baluchis, and Arabs — minorities who often face discrimination and underdevelopment. His own background helps here.

Economic Rescue:
Iran faces ~40% inflation, youth unemployment, currency devaluation, and oil export barriers. Pezeshkian wants to reopen trade channels, restore investor trust, and fight elite corruption.

Structural Constraints

Despite the presidential title, Iran’s system limits his power:

• The Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) holds ultimate authority over major policies.

• The IRGC controls strategic industries, security, and parts of foreign policy.

• Parliament and judiciary are heavily influenced by conservatives.

So, any big promise — whether about hijab, nuclear deals, or opening society — must pass through a web of unelected power centers.

Current Situation (2025)

Since taking office on 28 July 2024, he has:

• Appointed Javad Zarif (ex-FM) as his key foreign affairs adviser.

• Pushed for backchannel talks with the US and EU.

• Ordered a partial rollback of street patrols by the morality police — an experiment being watched by the whole region.

• Survived an alleged Israeli assassination attempt in June 2025. His survival strengthened his image as a determined leader.

Global Significance

Pezeshkian’s presidency is a test of whether Iran’s reformist bloc can still maneuver within the constraints of a theocratic republic:

• If he revives talks with the West and slightly eases domestic repression, Iran could see sanctions relief, economic recovery, and lower risk of war.

• If hardliners block him — or if Israel and the US increase confrontations — he may be forced to abandon moderation.