Final Presidential Candidates Debate Held; Khatami Endorses Pezeshkian

The final debate among six candidates approved by the Guardian Council took place on Tuesday, July 5, focusing on "government efficiency" under two topics: "issues on the table" and "people's expectations from the fourteenth government." The program's host reminded viewers that the day before the election, July 7, marks the fortieth day since the death of Ebrahim Raisi, referred to as a "martyr of service." Ali Khamenei also mentioned this in his speech today. Experts were not present in the program, and in the first part, candidates answered the host's question about their first actions if they become president and the timeline for these actions. Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, head of the Martyrs Foundation, spoke first, stating that in addition to fourteen fundamental solutions, he would take immediate actions to alleviate the pain and problems of the people. He claimed that Hassan Rouhani's government raised the price to three thousand tomans amid "chaos" and "spilled blood of youth" in November 98, and he would not do the same. Continuing the "housing construction movement" initiated by Ebrahim Raisi, standing against the car mafia, and replacing compulsory military service with professional military service were among the plans he emphasized. Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, addressed various social and occupational groups, stating that his covenant with them is the "Constitution," and the economic packages he proposed as electoral promises are "your right and have been neglected so far." He added that he has come to the scene for "justice and fair distribution of wealth" and prioritizes an annual payment of 20 million tomans to every Iranian as a "golden subsidy." Zakani also claimed that if he wins the election, he would return the price of gasoline to 1500 tomans, eliminate smuggling, energy imbalance, and environmental damage, asserting that over 90% of people would become wealthy under his plans. His second, third, and fourth packages focused on housing, health, and food security, claiming support from "scholars" in the health sector. Zakani also claimed to have resolved thirty years of problems between the Tehran municipality and various agencies. Saeed Jalili, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, emphasized employment and currency generation, specifically addressing rural areas. He stated that rural areas should not be viewed as poor and deprived, as they represent "opportunity and the cell of leap." This principlist figure stressed the need for job security for village heads and increased facilities for rural areas in Iran, calling for guarantees for farmers to receive loans and sell their products. Mostafa Pourmohammadi, another candidate, pointed to a survey provided by state television indicating that 73.5% of people identified economic issues as the primary problem, stating he would focus on the infrastructure for economic growth and production. He considered the stock market the pulse of the economy worldwide and noted its growth at the end of Rouhani's government, stating that "the stock market has been locked in the thirteenth government." Pourmohammadi cited government interference in the stock market, lack of transparency, and the presence of state and quasi-state entities as barriers to real competition and conflicts of interest in this market. He claimed he would achieve a positive balance for the capital market and stock market within a year. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, unlike other candidates before him, refrained from presenting his economic program and promises. He stated, "Everything being said has been said in the past two or three decades and should have been resolved, but it remains unresolved... Why has it not been resolved?" Qalibaf urged other candidates not to act according to the enemy's map and not to complete the enemy's plan with their actions, statements, and decisions, which would further confuse the people. He drew attention to the characteristics that the Supreme Leader had mentioned earlier regarding the "ideal candidate" and added, "Our main problem is that when we sit in office, the people's concerns may become our second concern." Ali Khamenei advised the people today to choose a candidate who has a heartfelt belief in the principles of the revolution, is not dependent on foreign powers, and utilizes all domestic capacities. Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, stated that people primarily want economic issues resolved, followed by foreign policy and cultural issues, and he aims to address why these issues remain unresolved in Iran. He identified deep political structural divides and the gap between the people and the government as the main reasons for unresolved problems, stating, "With this level of conflict in the government, nothing can be done for Iran and its issues." He emphasized that "the best expert solutions also turn national issues like the JCPOA into disputes with this level of conflicts and deep divides." This parliamentary representative added that he intends to reduce the intensity of disputes and the gap between the people and the government. Pezeshkian stated that lies have taken hold of Iranian politics, and he will not lie, will respect citizens' rights, and will be a listener and responsive instead of a spokesperson. Ghazizadeh Hashemi claimed that Pezeshkian's campaign deputy was the commander of the "shutdown" of the internet. He referred to Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the communications minister in Rouhani's government, whose ministry managed the internet shutdown during the November 98 protests, which reportedly resulted in over 1500 deaths. Jahromi responded to these earlier claims on July 4, stating in a tweet, "Mr. Ghazizadeh, the order to cut the internet in 98 was approved by your main candidate who is sitting next to you in this debate, why is your neck crooked?" The reference by the communications minister of Rouhani's government was to Saeed Jalili, one of the candidates in this presidential election. During the protests in autumn 1401, which swept across the country during Ebrahim Raisi's presidency, the internet in Iran was once again severely slowed, and many websites and social networks were filtered. Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh, who currently heads the Martyrs Foundation, emphasized that "the greatest slaughter of the internet" is recorded in the name of Rouhani's government. He criticized Pezeshkian again, stating that he believes in unity, but some issues must be "fought over" to serve the people. He addressed Pezeshkian, asking, "Who called people to the streets when they were not in power?" Ghazizadeh further accused Rouhani's government of "manipulating" the stock market and referred to the murder of Mohammad Ali Najafi's wife, the former mayor of Tehran, questioning why reformists did not support that woman if they claim to support women. In another part of his remarks, he accused Rouhani's government of manipulating the stock market. Qalibaf stated that he has worked with three governments, all of which were politically opposed to him, but he never created tension. This principlist candidate stated that if he reaches the presidency, he will not waste the lives of people and youth with political disputes, opportunism, and excuses. Pezeshkian responded to Ghazizadeh's criticisms, reiterating that he does not believe Ghazizadeh will remain in the election until the end. He stated, "I do not know why Mr. Ghazizadeh keeps insisting and wants to draw us into the same disputes." Pezeshkian noted that Ghazizadeh had previously claimed he could solve the stock market issues in three days. He recently stated that this is no longer possible. In another part of his speech, Pezeshkian said that they must abandon "disputes" and stated, "If we do not fulfill our promises, we should be prosecuted." In summarizing the candidates, Qalibaf invited the people to participate in the elections, calling the existing doubts fake, stating, "Today is not a day for doubt and is not a day to forget issues due to fake disputes and electoral atmospheres; today is a day to decide for your tomorrow and the future of your country; it is you and tomorrow that is the future of Iran." Masoud Pezeshkian concluded the debate by stating that he has faced a tough challenge entering this election but emphasized, "I have come to rescue the people from the constraints of sanctions with a combination of soft and hard power, diplomacy, fieldwork, negotiation, and resistance, as well as a combination of social solidarity and state power." He claimed that at the head of Iran's political system is a leadership that supports the country's progress and is a supporter of overcoming problems; he stated, "The leadership breaks deadlocks and is an asset for resolving disputes." Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi also referred to the issue of Iranian women's hijab, stating, "Is the dispute over hijab and non-hijab a great deception for an anti-religious project? A woman's covering is a means of protection for her. The non-hijab is primarily from those who have devastated people's lives." Alireza Zakani, in the final part of his remarks in this debate, stated that he has no personal issues with anyone, claiming that his issue is "the model of governance and the way of serving." Expressing concern about "losing the path of martyrs," he referred to Ebrahim Raisi's three-year presidency as a "period of wisdom" and stated that he proudly withdrew in favor of Raisi in 1400. He has not yet clarified whether he will withdraw again in this round or, as he said in one of the debates addressing Pezeshkian, remain in the competition. Saeed Jalili concluded the debate by stating, "The government's duty is to interact, not to trade. Those who trade disrespect the people's rights." He called all ethnicities and groups "an opportunity" for society, stating, "Diversity of ethnicities and religions is one of our opportunities." Mostafa Pourmohammadi also concluded his speech by stating, "I have come to end uncertainties and to say clearly and without hesitation that the street is a place of respect, not a place of disrespect; the table is a place for bread, not a promise of it; welfare is the right of the people, not a favor from the government. I am a principlist and, of course, a reformist." Hours after the final debate among the candidates, Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, released a message supporting Masoud Pezeshkian in the presidential election, emphasizing the need to reform the "crisis-ridden society" and stating that overthrowing the Islamic Republic is "neither possible nor desirable." In this video message released on Tuesday, he recalled his decision not to vote in the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, stating, "I joined the majority that feels there is no ear to hear their voice and no capable hand to solve their problems." In May of this year, a day before the second round of parliamentary elections, an audio file of Khatami was released, related to one of his meetings with reformists before the first round of parliamentary elections in Esfand. In this audio file, the former president expressed his despair over reforming the electoral process in Iran, telling reformists that they should say, "As long as this parliament and the Guardian Council exist, we will not participate in elections." Khatami stated that determining "minimums" could make participation in elections "justifiable." He also referred to Pezeshkian's candidacy as an "opportunity" and expressed hope that it could create a space where the majority's voice is heard and that even a slight difference could emerge in the current atmosphere. He highlighted Pezeshkian's "truthfulness, integrity, and adherence" to the ideals of the revolution, stating that Pezeshkian's presence could create hope among the majority dissatisfied with the current situation. The former president of the seventh and eighth governments of the Islamic Republic stated that people "must understand that problems, which are becoming increasingly more and more compressed, cannot be easily and quickly resolved" and that he considers participation in the fourteenth presidential election to be "justifiable" and will vote for Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian served as Minister of Health and Medical Education during Khatami's second government and has referenced the "successes" of that period several times during his campaign. The principlist newspaper Kayhan, whose director is appointed by the Supreme Leader, referred to this election candidate as the "continuation of Khatami" on July 3. Meanwhile, the totality of the combatant clergy, one of the long-standing reformist organizations, also...