Masoud Pezeshkian

An Iranian politician and physician, serving as Iran's president since 2024. Born on September 29, 1954, in Mahabad, Iran, to a mixed Kurdish-Azeri family, he studied medicine at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, specializing in surgery, and became a prominent professor and administrator. His political career began in the 2000s as Minister of Health under President Mohammad Khatami and later as a parliament member representing Tabriz. Associated with reformists, Pezeshkian has been a vocal critic of government corruption and strict social policies, including the mandatory headscarf for women. In 2022, he condemned the death of Mahsa Amini, sparking controversy for criticizing law enforcement and advocating public freedoms. In 2024, Pezeshkian was elected president after campaigning on cooperation with the West and expanding personal freedoms, defeating conservative rival Saeed Jalili in a runoff election with strong support from reformists and moderates.