Iran's upcoming state-run presidential elections are crowded with 80 candidates, but one name has always stood out: Saeed Djalili.
The 55-year-old anti-American ideologue and self-described revolutionary is seen as a potential Replica of Ebrahim Raisi's government.
Under state surveillance Rouydad24 News Outlet He suggested that while the path to victory is complex, certain factors in Iran's political landscape could favor his chances of winning the presidential election.
Jalili is an ultra-conservative aide to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and belongs to the fundamentalist faction of Iranian politics that emphasizes the principles of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Jalili has previously run as a presidential candidate, with one of his official campaign slogans being “Great Jihad for the Advancement of Iran.”
He has held key foreign and security roles within the Iranian government, serving as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2007 to 2013 and currently serving as a member of the Expediency Council.
Khamenei, who many experts say effectively elected Raisi in 2021 despite the pretense of an election, has long maintained a good relationship with Jalili.
Rouydad24 points out that Jalili's inflexibility as Iran's nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 led to multiple resolutions against Iran by the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board due to his refusal to compromise, which resulted in international economic sanctions and began to unravel the relative stability of Iran's oil-dependent economy.
During his tenure as deputy foreign minister, several European diplomats described him as: Reuters He was known for expressing his opinions forcefully and unwaveringly – one diplomat even said that Mr. Jalili “preferred monologues” to debates.
His approach often frustrated diplomats: Then-Undersecretary of State William Burns recalled one time when Jalili rambled philosophically for nearly 40 minutes during a meeting, complicating the negotiating process by avoiding direct answers.
However, his firm stance on nuclear negotiations has given him the impression of someone who will not easily succumb to Western pressure. Certain factions, especially hard-liners and conservatives, may support him for his ideological purity and strict stance on negotiations.
Rouydad24's analysis of Jalili suggests that his resistance in the nuclear negotiations may have been part of a broader strategy by the Iranian regime to buy time while developing Iran's nuclear capabilities.
In any case, Jalili's diplomatic style is Experts conclude If the administration wants to advance its current foreign policy and improve relations with the West, he may not be the right candidate.
His biggest rival in the presidential race may be conservative former parliament speaker Ali Larijani, and some say it could set up a diplomatic dichotomy similar to that seen in the 2013 election when the contrasting approaches of the two men were already apparent.
In 2022, According to some reportsJalili clashed with Larijani at a special meeting of the Expediency Council over the nuclear negotiations, after reportedly proposing that Iran withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move Larijani and others opposed.
Rouydad24's analysis points out that in Iranian foreign policy, the real power lies with the senior officials who make the final decisions. This could refer to the Supreme Leader. The president and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs act as the executors of these decisions. Despite this clear hierarchical structure, different administrations have managed to influence the decision-making process.
It is unclear whether Jalili, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war and former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, will change his position on the ceasefire agreement with Western countries.
Known for his strong “nationalist” views and his firm belief in the Islamic Republic's moral and strategic victory over American aggression, Jalili has always taken a hard-line stance. Given his track record so far, it is expected that as president he will continue to emphasize resistance and minimal concessions, casting doubt on any moves towards diplomatic compromise with the West.
Khamenei wants to maintain the status quo and is likely to position Jalili as a convenient successor to Raisi.
