Former nuclear negotiator Jalili pulls ahead in Iranian presidential vote count

Saeed Jalili, steadfastly loyal to Iran’s supreme leader, pushes slightly ahead of the sole moderate candidate as more votes are counted from a tightly controlled snap presidential election held amid growing public frustration and Western pressure.

Among more than 10.3 million ballots from yesterday’s election counted so far, hardline former nuclear negotiator Jalili won more than 4.26 million votes and his low-profile moderate challenger lawmaker Massoud Pezeshkian gained about 4.24 million, Interior ministry official Mohsen Eslami tells state TV.

Some insiders say the turnout was around 40%, lower than expected by Iran’s clerical rulers, while witnesses told Reuters that polling stations in Tehran and some other cities were not crowded.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency says a run-off election is “very likely” to pick the next president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.

While the election is unlikely to bring a major shift in the Islamic Republic’s policies, its outcome could influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s 85-year-old supreme leader, in power since 1989.

The clerical establishment sought a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fuelled by public discontent over economic hardship and curbs on political and social freedom.

The next president is not expected to usher in any major policy shift on Iran’s nuclear programme or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters.

However, the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran’s foreign and domestic policy.

Jalili, a former diplomat and nuclear negotiator, describes himself as a pious believer in “velayat-e faqih”, or rule by supreme jurisprudence, Iran’s system of Islamic government that provides the basis for Khamenei’s paramount position.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.