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| 2009 Iranian presidential election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2009 Iranian presidential election |
| Country | Iran |
| Type | presidential |
| Previous election | 2005 Iranian presidential election |
| Previous year | 2005 |
| Next election | 2013 Iranian presidential election |
| Next year | 2013 |
| Election date | 12 June 2009 |
| Turnout | disputed |
2009 Iranian presidential election The 2009 Iranian presidential election held on 12 June 2009 was a pivotal contest in the Islamic Republic involving incumbent and reformist factions, sparking nationwide demonstrations and international debate. The announced victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over challengers triggered mass protests, political realignment within the Islamic Republic of Iran establishment, and sustained scrutiny from foreign governments and international organizations.
The election followed the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected in the 2005 Iranian presidential election and occurring during the presidency of George W. Bush's final year and the early presidency of Barack Obama in the United States, amid tensions over Iran's nuclear program and relations with Israel and European Union nations. The body responsible for candidate vetting, the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran constitution, approved a field including conservative, reformist, and principalist figures. Domestic issues included debates over subsidies under President Ahmadinejad, the role of the Bonyad welfare foundations, and political openings associated with the reformist legacy of Mohammad Khatami and the conservative faction led by figures such as Ali Larijani and Ali Khamenei.
Major candidates included incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rouhani, former Speaker of the Parliament Mehdi Karroubi, former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, and conservative cleric Mohsen Rezaee. Campaigns engaged state media outlets like Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting while reformist networks used public rallies linked to movements associated with the Green Movement and support from intellectuals connected to Tehran University faculties. Prominent political allies and rivals included Gholamhossein Karbaschi, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Reza Aref, Ali Akbar Nategh-Nouri, Sadegh Larijani, and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei whose influence colored alliances. International think tanks referencing Iran included Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, and International Crisis Group which analyzed campaign dynamics.
On election day, voters lined up in cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Shiraz. The Interior Ministry of Iran announced results declaring Ahmadinejad the winner with a majority, followed by Mousavi, Karroubi, and other candidates. Official tallies were reported through state media, local Basij units' presence at polling stations was noted, and turnout figures became a focal point cited by activists, opposition leaders, and officials including members of the Majlis (Iranian Parliament). International broadcasters such as BBC Persian, Voice of America, and Al Jazeera provided live coverage and analysis.
Allegations of electoral fraud prompted large-scale demonstrations in Tehran and other cities, with protesters chanting in support of Mousavi and Karroubi and demanding validation by the Guardian Council. The protests escalated into confrontations involving Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Law Enforcement Force units, and paramilitary Basij volunteers. High-profile arrests included activists, journalists associated with outlets like Etemad and Shargh, and politicians such as Mohammad Khatami's supporters. International human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued statements critical of crackdowns. The movement adopted the color green as a symbol and is often called the Green Movement (Iran), invoking comparisons to earlier protest movements tied to the 1999 Iranian student protests.
Foreign governments and intergovernmental organizations reacted with statements from the United States Department of State, the European Union External Action Service, and the United Nations calling for restraint and transparent investigation of complaints. Leaders who commented included Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Gordon Brown, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Vladimir Putin. The International Atomic Energy Agency and regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey monitored fallout given implications for regional security and the Iran–United States relations trajectory. Diaspora communities in cities like Los Angeles, London, and Toronto organized demonstrations at Iranian embassies and consulates.
In the months following, the Guardian Council confirmed the election results amid continued arrests and the suspension of several newspapers, while reformist leaders faced house arrest and legal restriction, affecting figures such as Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. The episode reshaped power balances among conservative institutions centered on Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the presidency, influencing the rise of later political trajectories including the successful 2013 candidacy of Hassan Rouhani. The events spurred long-term activism within Iranian civil society linked to organizations like Journalists Syndicate of Iran and influenced global diplomacy concerning sanctions, the Iran nuclear deal negotiations, and Iran's international posture.
Category:Iranian presidential elections