Iran’s only moderate presidential candidate takes surprise poll lead

"'It’s important to understand that Pezeshkian is a loyalist to the Islamic Republic,' said Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, an advocacy group.

'While he is labelled as reformist, he still believes in the same corrupt, repressive and incompetent regime and system that all of the other conservative and hardliner candidates believe in,' he said.

'There is an attempt by the regime to utilise him in a way that will generate turnout and try to legitimise an illegitimate election,' he added."