Saeed Jalili, anti-West candidate in Iran presidency runoff
Ultraconservative former Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who will face a reformist in a runoff for president, is widely recognised for his steadfast anti-Western stance.
Jalili, 58, will aim to unify Iran's fragmented conservative factions in the bid for the presidency when he faces Masoud Pezeshkian next Friday.
A relatively reserved figure with a well-groomed white beard and spectacles, Jalili will seek to persuade voters he is best suited to lead Iran under the guidance of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in the country.
![Ultraconservative former Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili waves to supporters during a campaign event in Tehran](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-06/af901a62e9d9574eb39d861c950ef76cfc57aa18.jpg?h=69f2b9d0&itok=iNA2V3as)