TEHRAN – Iran’s constitutional body, the Guardian Council, has validated the final results of the second round of nationwide presidential elections held on July 5, confirming the victory of reformist candidate Masoud Pezesehkian.

The Guardian Council is responsible for overseeing election processes in Iran. In a statement on national TV, the Council's spokesperson confirmed the accuracy and legitimacy of the election results and said the body has formally notified the Interior Ministry of the verification. 

“No complaints were lodged by the candidates, and there were no significant reports of public complaints that could affect the election results. As a result, the Guardian Council has confirmed the validity of the fourteenth presidential election,” Hadi Tahan Nazif added. 

Pezeshkian, who is to succeed the late President Ebrahim Raisi, will have to receive the official decree of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, endorsing the election results before heading to the Iranian Parliament to gain approval from the lawmakers. 

Pezeshkian gained about 16.4 million votes, 53.7 percent of the vote, beating his conservative rival Saeed Jalili with a substantial margin of almost 3 million. 

The president-elect’s defeated conservative competitors have vowed to aid Pezeshkian’s administration during his upcoming 4 years in office.