In the upcoming run-off presidential election in Iran, two candidates will face off for the highest office in the country. Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian emerged as the top contenders following the first round of voting held on June 28, where no candidate managed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote.

Saeed Jalili, an uncompromising conservative hardliner, is widely recognized for his role as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator between 2007 and 2012. Currently serving as one of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's direct representatives on the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Jalili has previously run for the presidency twice but was unsuccessful. A staunch opponent of the nuclear deal with the West in 2015, Jalili is known for his anti-Western stance and would likely be unwilling to agree to Western terms for restoring the deal if elected. He has vowed to swiftly tackle inflation, but details about his proposed plans remain unclear.

On the other hand, Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon by profession, is considered to be a moderate candidate. He has been a member of parliament since 2008 and formerly held the position of deputy parliament speaker from 2016 to 2020. Pezeshkian has strong ties to the health sector, having served as a health minister in the early 2000s and playing a prominent role within the Iranian parliament's health commission. Despite being disqualified by the Guardian Council from running in the 2021 presidential election, Pezeshkian has gained the support of senior centrists and reformists within Iran's establishment, such as former Presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani. He has pledged to restore the 2015 nuclear deal and has expressed his opposition to the state's handling of protests.

It is important to note that Iran's political landscape consists of diverse power centers revolving around Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, rather than a single unified block. Both Jalili and Pezeshkian are longtime members of the establishment and loyalists to the Iranian government, albeit with Pezeshkian leaning more towards reformist tendencies.

The election saw a record-low turnout, with only 40 percent of eligible Iranians casting their votes. Jalili received 40 percent of the vote, while Pezeshkian emerged as the frontrunner with 44.4 percent. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the conservative former mayor of Tehran, secured 14.4 percent, thus failing to advance to the run-off.

Moving forward, Jalili has garnered the support of Ghalibaf and two other conservative candidates, strengthening his position. However, Pezeshkian's chances rely on mobilizing centrist and reformist Iranians to participate in the run-off election. The state's crackdown on anti-government protests may discourage some reformist voters from engaging in the political process. Yet, the fear of a hardline Jalili presidency might sway some reform-minded individuals to support Pezeshkian. The final outcome will depend on Pezeshkian's ability to garner enough support among these voters.

As the run-off election approaches, all eyes will be on Iran to see which candidate emerges victorious and shapes the country's future.