Iranian presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian
Iran to hold on to Eastern promise
New reformist leadership is unlikely to see any quick changes to relations with the West, but Iran has opportunity to boost its energy and foreign policy options
Masoud Pezeshkian, a classic reformist and former member of parliament, has emerged as the new president of Iran following an election held after the death of the country’s pro-East president, Ebrahim Raisi, resulting in the resurgence of reformists in Iranian politics. Just three months ago, even the most optimistic political observers in Iran saw little chance of Pezeshkian securing a seat in parliament, let alone the presidency. But Iran now has a president who, during his campaign, emphasised efforts to resolve issues with the West. Iran's foreign policy is influenced by a complex and opaque mix of geopolitical, ideological, economic and political factors, making it difficult to define a
Also in this section
3 March 2026
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in US–Israeli strikes marks the most serious escalation in the region in decades and a bigger potential threat to the oil market than the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis
2 March 2026
A potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalating US-Iran conflict risks disrupting Qatari LNG exports that underpin global gas markets, exposing Asia and other markets to sharp price spikes, cargo shortages and renewed reliance on dirtier fuels
2 March 2026
The South Asian consumer’s next move could tighten the Middle East oil market overnight
2 March 2026
Canadian independent’s evolving portfolio in Trinidad and Tobago gives it access to the Atlantic LNG market and a close-up view of developments in neighbouring Venezuela
