Iran's New President, Killer Robots, and the "Invisible" Church

Tipping Point Quick Hits (07.11.24)

Who Is Iran’s New President?

A couple of weeks ago, I highlighted the upcoming presidential elections in Iran to replace former president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in May in a helicopter crash. Several candidates wanted the job, though I pointed out that the political power of Iran’s president is relatively weak. Iran’s official head of state, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remains the commander-in-chief of its armed forces regardless of who is president.

But at this point we know who won the election: Masoud Pezeshkian, a former heart surgeon. His win, for many outsiders, was unexpected. Turnout was very low and Iran is no bastion of democracy. Pezeshkian is known as a reformist candidate, but don’t let that description give you the idea that he’s ready to take on the ruling elite of the Islamic Republic.

He is an Islamist, and he is going to answer to Khamenei. Some have described him as a “token reformist” and not a true leader in that sense.

In Iran, “reformists” are known for calling for a more democratic society, though Pezeshkian didn’t mention anything like that in his campaign. CNBC explains that “Reformist” doesn’t carry much weight in Iran, “as Pezeshkian has expressed no intention to challenge the country’s theocratic system.”