Iran Elections: Rare Reformist Candidate Pezeshkian Shakes Up Hardliner Dominated Presidential Polls – News18

00:00 Introduction2:27 Reformist Vs Hardliners5:11 Factors working against Ghalibaf, Pezeshkian5:46 Turnout: A deciding factor?7:44 Iran’s political course to change?The sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi along with other senior government officials in a helicopter crash on May 20 left Iran without an executive leader at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and the US-led West in the backdrop of Israel’s months-long war on Gaza. The tragic event necessitated fresh presidential elections in the Middle Eastern country scheduled to be held on June 28. In the fray are five from the ranks of the hardliner and conservative factions and one reformist. While the hardliner candidates were widely expected to be approved to contest the polls by The Guardian Council which vets call candidates for national elections, the qualification of reformist Masoud Pezeshkian left many shocked given how the elite poll vetting body banned all reformists in the last race.So, why the sudden change in stance now? Can the lone reformist beat the hardliners? Will Pezeshkian change the political fate of Iran or eventually fall in line? Which way are Iranians leaning – towards reformist or hardliners? Watch for more details.