TEHRAN, Iran: The candidates for Iran’s presidential election engaged in a four-hour live debate on state TV, focusing on the country’s economic challenges amid escalating tensions with the West.
With the election scheduled for June 28 following President Ebrahim Raisi’s tragic death in a helicopter crash, the debate marked the first of five planned sessions in the shortened campaign period.
Economic issues took center stage, including discussions on sanctions relief, inflation, budget deficits, housing problems, and corruption. All six candidates pledged to address these issues and implement reforms, albeit without providing specific details.
The candidates come from diverse backgrounds, with five being hard-liners and one, lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian, having the support of some pro-reformers. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former Tehran mayor with ties to the Revolutionary Guard, emerged as a prominent candidate despite past controversies related to crackdowns on dissent.
Other contenders include Iran’s vice president, Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, current Tehran mayor Ali Reza Zakani, Supreme National Security Council member Saeed Jalili, and former interior minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi.
During the debate, Qalibaf emphasized his commitment to supporting the poor, managing the economy, and seeking diplomatic solutions to lift sanctions. Pezeshkian highlighted the devastating impact of sanctions and advocated for fewer restrictions on the internet, which has been heavily censored in Iran.
All candidates vowed to strengthen Iran’s currency, the rial, which has sharply depreciated against the dollar. Notably, they avoided discussing the tattered nuclear deal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei retaining authority over major state matters, including nuclear policy.
While pro-reform figures have backed Pezeshkian, concerns remain over declining voter turnout and the potential influence of hard-line candidates in the upcoming election. Raisi’s victory in the 2021 election saw historically low turnout, reflecting broader disillusionment among Iranian voters.
