Reformists Warn Against Hardliner Jalili in Iran's Presidential Race

Politicians close to Iran's 'reformists' have begun warning voters about hardliner presidential candidate Saeed Jalili, as they argue that his ideological rigidity will hurt the country.

Hamid Abutalebi, former advisor to ‘reformist’ Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani took to X to warn against Jalili labeling him as a ‘fanatical extremist’ who he has known for “more than 3 decades.” whose policies would increase chances of conflict with the West and intensified sanctions.

Reformists including Abutalebi insist that Jalili is a danger to the country with his hardline foreign policy and ideology.

"Trump has pledged to bring back the sanctions in a paralyzing form if he wins," Abutalebi stated, "Jalili has also said in the debates that if he wins, he wants to make the West regret the sanctions. Therefore, if Mr. Jalili and his faction are elected, not only will there be no negotiation to solve the people's problems,” Abutalebi warned.

Although Abutalebi says that he didn’t vote in the elections, he stated that he believes presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian’s commitment to his “reformist policies will not bring the country to the valley of destruction.”

A large majority of voters who boycotted the first round of the election on June 28, were not swayed by the mutual smearing campaigns of the reformists and hardliners.