Iran's president-elect Pezeshkian to be sworn in next month

  • 2 months ago

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Transcript
00:00Under the campaign slogan, Save Iran, reformist Massoud Pazeshkian was elected.
00:05A moment he described as the start of a new chapter for the country long governed by a
00:10hardline regime.
00:12You have created an opportunity for Iran and brought hope and vitality back to an atmosphere
00:23of despondency.
00:25Pazeshkian's success speaks to the deep dissatisfaction within Iran.
00:30He campaigned on more social freedoms, criticising heavy police enforcement and what he called
00:35violent and inhumane behaviours towards Iran's sisters and daughters.
00:40He wants improved relations with the West, in part to bring relief from US sanctions,
00:45but also to push for lasting peace.
00:48While ambitious, his promise of change has struck a chord with many voters, even those
00:53losing faith in the democratic process.
00:56After a historically low voter turnout in round one, an extra 10% of voters showed up
01:01in the runoff to usher him in a victory over his hardline rival, Saeed Jalili.
01:07Now they will be asking, can he deliver?
01:11Can he for example come in and push back on some of those draconian laws that exist in
01:18the country, things like mandatory veil, the hijab.
01:22Some of these religious dictated positions of the regime.
01:25He cannot.
01:26And he has made it very clear that he will hope he can engage the rest of the regime
01:31in a dialogue.
01:34Iran's political system means that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the final
01:38arbiter of state matters.
01:40So Iranians hoping for change will have to wait to see whether Pazeshkian's dialogue
01:44can become more than words, given the influence of the regime.

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