The winner of the recent presidential elections in Iran, Massoud Pezheshkian, will be sworn in to the Parliament, according to all indications, in early August. The 69-year-old politician has been a member of the Iranian Parliament since 2008. His ideological commitment to the Islamic Republic is unquestionable.

Of the six religious leadership-endorsed presidential candidates in Iran’s elections, Massoud Pezheskian is the only candidate who could be considered a moderate. Ultraconservatives, hardliners, moderates, and reformers represent different approaches to foreign policy, society, and international relations. The four trends represent different wings within the Iranian political system.

The ultraconservatives

According to the Berlin-based German Foundation for Science and Politics (SWP), the ultraconservatives are a rallying point for conservative and radical forces. Ultraconservatives are known for their strict interpretation of Islamic law, aim to enforce Islamic principles, and view the West as a threat to Islamic values.

They play a key role in shaping Iran’s foreign policy through their influence on the National Security Council. The current chairman of the National Security Council is Said Jalili, who was the candidate of the ultra-conservative camp in the presidential election. He rejects the normalization of relations with the West and favors closer cooperation with Russia.

The hardliners

The hardliners in Iran reject, like the ultraconservatives, any changes, but also any Western influence. However, their motives are less ideological and are considered more realistic. The hardliners’ presidential candidate was Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been speaker of Parliament since 2020. Unlike Said Jalili, who does not allow his family to make public appearances, Ghalibaf sent his daughter to a televised interview to support his candidacy in the presidential elections.

The moderates

The political camp of moderates is between reformers and hardliners. Moderates avoid extreme views and are ready to resolve conflicts through negotiations.

Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Peseshkian, who is among the moderates, began his political career in the mid-1990s under Health Minister Alireza Maradi, when the country’s president was the pragmatist Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989-1997). Under reformist President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) he served as Minister of Health in the early 2000s.

In an interview with DW, Israeli expert Danny Sitronovich at think tanks such as the Gulf Arab States Institute and the Middle East Institute, characterizes Mahmoud Peseshkian as a moderate president: “We know that the religious leader Ayatollah Khamenei always has the last word in Iran. But the president has many options. Peseshkian will try to reach an agreement with the West, especially with the US, in order to reduce international economic pressure on Iran, as he promised during the election campaign.”

The reformers

Reformers do not occupy a prominent position in the Iranian system of power. The political movement appeared at the end of the 90s, managing to mobilize important sections of society with promises of reforms. The best known politician from the reformist wing was Mohammad Khatami. The reformers promised to work for a more liberal society, the loosening of cultural and religious regulations, freedom of the press, more rule of law and transparency in the political system. They sought de-escalation and dialogue with the international community.

Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos