Iran’s president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to extend his hand to all Iranians in his first remarks after being declared the winner a run-off against hardline rival Saeed Jalili.

“The difficult path ahead will not be smooth except with your companionship, empathy, and trust,” Pezeshkian said in a post on X on Saturday, July 6, 2024.

The Ministry of Interior said on Saturday: “By gaining [the] majority of the votes cast on Friday, Pezeshkian has become Iran’s next president.”

Pezeshkian secured 53.7 percent of the votes, or 16.3m of the more than 30 million votes cast, according to the official count. Jalili received 44.3 percent, or 13.5m.