Mahmoud Vaezi, the former Chief of Staff to ex-President Hassan Rouhani, has openly critiqued Masoud Pezeshkian's stance on reform ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for June 28.

Vaezi's comments on the only pro-reform candidate in the race highlight the importance of candidates’ allegiance to the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in order to succeed.

“Pezeshkian must clearly tell the people that I have been seeking 'change' from the past, and today the opportunity has arisen for change to occur in people's lives," Vaezi remarked amid Iran’s economic crisis and the worst social crackdowns in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Further underlining the expectations placed on Pezeshkian, Vaezi shared that many are urging him to facilitate an endorsement from former President Rouhani. "Many people talk to me, asking me to speak to Former President Hassan Rouhani so that he supports Pezeshkian. This is what the people tell us... We hope that the candidate himself will more clearly reflect to the people what is necessary for change," Vaezi added.

However, skepticism about Pezeshkian’s potential for genuine reform is growing with five of the six candidates staunchly pro-regime. His recent televised interview, which focused primarily on economic issues without touching on more contentious subjects such as foreign policy, the nuclear program, or the mandatory hijab law, has left many supporters disillusioned as the country cries out for change.

Critics argue that his avoidance of critical topics indicates a potential alignment with the prevailing views rather than a departure from them if he is to stand a chance in the upcoming polls which follow the sudden death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month.