Fourth Debate of Presidential Candidates; Jalili and Pour-Mohammadi Clash Over Sanctions

The fourth debate of the candidates for the 14th presidential election of Iran, held on the topic of 'foreign policy', turned into a heated discussion among candidates about sanctions, the nuclear agreement known as 'JCPOA', and contracts like 'Kowsar'. This debate was broadcast on the evening of Monday, July 4, from the national television networks of the Islamic Republic and became a scene of verbal conflict among candidates regarding foreign and domestic policy issues. The JCPOA was a focal point in parts of this debate, leading to confrontations between Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi and Saeed Jalili, Alireza Zakani, and Amir-Hossein Qazizadeh. Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, a presidential candidate and Secretary-General of the Combatant Clergy Association, stated that some candidates, 'willingly or unwillingly, with delusion or compounded ignorance', contributed to the sanctions and were 'paving the way for the enemy' for further sanctions. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, at the beginning of his remarks, questioned the statements of Mohammad Javad Zarif, a supporter of Masoud Pezeshkian, regarding the law 'Strategic Action for the Removal of Sanctions'. He referred to Zarif's comments that the parliament's nuclear law prevented the JCPOA from being revived, saying these remarks have 'tired' the people and hindered 'unity and cohesion'. What did the Iranian presidential candidates say about sanctions? In response to these remarks, Masoud Pezeshkian brought up the disagreements over the revival of the JCPOA and referred to this agreement with Western powers as an 'advantage', adding: 'The fight is over whether it should be in my name or someone else's.' During the debate, he repeatedly referred to internal disagreements over the JCPOA and asked its opponents to state what their alternative is if they do not accept this agreement. This candidate, supported by the reformist movement, also alluded several times to the attacks by forces backed by conservatives on the embassies of Britain and Saudi Arabia. These criticisms were met with a response from Amir-Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, who stated that the governments at the time could have prevented these attacks and criticized Pezeshkian for using these events as an excuse to attack 'revolutionary' forces. In another part of this debate, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi revealed that when he was the Minister of Interior in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first government, he intended to organize NGOs, but Saeed Jalili summoned his deputy and accused these organizations of being part of a 'velvet revolution' in Iran. Saeed Jalili responded by saying that Mr. Pour-Mohammadi has become 'dreamy' about this issue. Mr. Jalili also referred to other topics where Pour-Mohammadi had become 'dreamy', prompting him to reply that 'some people are still not awake'. The Kowsar controversy Mr. Pour-Mohammadi, who had previously been accused by some candidates of negligence regarding the Kowsar contract, defended the signing of this contract, which was made during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, and accused Saeed Jalili and Alireza Zakani of causing significant losses to Iran by being involved in its cancellation. He also called for a debate between opponents of this contract and Bijan Zanganeh, the oil minister of the Khatami and Rouhani administrations. In response, Saeed Jalili accused Mr. Pour-Mohammadi of being ignorant about this contract, while Alireza Zakani stated that he is knowledgeable about it and welcomed the idea of a debate. Concurrently with the broadcast of the candidates' debate, a video of Bijan Zanganeh was released on social media in which he stated that Saeed Jalili and his 'apprentice' Alireza Zakani were discussing the Kowsar contract and addressed them: 'Brother, I am your match.' He continued by saying that in November 2021, he asked Mr. Jalili to debate about this contract and accused him of 'fleeing' from accountability. The Kowsar contract was an agreement signed in 2001 between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Emirati company 'Kowsar', but the Emirati company filed a lawsuit in The Hague after several years due to Iran's failure to adhere to the agreement. The International Arbitration Tribunal ruled in October 2021 that Iran must pay $2.43 billion in damages. In the ongoing verbal clash among the candidates regarding this contract, Saeed Jalili told Pour-Mohammadi that when he was the head of the country's Inspection Organization, he had the duty to pursue the 'corruption' of Kowsar. In another part of this debate, Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that there were things he did not know, but he was aware of the necessity of consulting 'experts' and accused the other candidates of considering themselves 'the all-knowing' despite their 'ignorance'. He also emphasized at least twice the implementation of the general programs desired by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, apart from Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, the other four candidates dedicated a significant portion of their remarks to criticizing Masoud Pezeshkian and his supporters and members of his campaign team, as well as the performance of the governments of Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami. Among them, Alireza Zakani, referring again to the contracts made during Khatami's administration and Pezeshkian's membership in that government, stated that during that time, 'the biggest oil betrayal to the country occurred: Total, Statoil, and Kowsar.' Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, who criticized Masoud Pezeshkian less than three other conservative candidates, acknowledged the impact of international sanctions in part of his remarks and emphasized the need to lift them, stating that the Iranian people are in a situation where they are exhibiting 'nobility', but their patience has 'run out'. Jalili's request to make the sanctioners 'regretful' Saeed Jalili, in summarizing his remarks, called for the establishment of 'serious mechanisms' to lift sanctions and stated that the 'sanctioner must be made regretful'. This conservative candidate also promised that with foreign policy, the employment situation in the country could be improved and that with 'specific programs', tourism and transit could be utilized for the country's income. Alireza Zakani, in his final remarks, criticized Hassan Rouhani's government, stating that his key 'did not open any locks, and even locked multiple others, and no other locksmith came.' 'Addicted to agreement' Amir-Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, in the final part of this debate, stated: 'Those who want to gather votes again with promises to lift sanctions cannot lift the sanctions.' This conservative candidate emphasized: 'Sanctions are part of the United States' security strategy and were not resolved even with the complete shutdown of Iran's nuclear program.' Mr. Qazizadeh stated: 'To reach an agreement, you must push your opponent back and be able to gain more concessions from them, but some of our friends are addicted to agreements. Instead of conflict with aligned countries, we should reach agreements. With energy diplomacy, we can conquer regional markets.' Qalibaf: Pezeshkian's campaign is the same as Rouhani's campaign Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, in summarizing his remarks, stated that Masoud Pezeshkian's campaign is 'the same as Rouhani's campaign'. He emphasized that voting for Masoud Pezeshkian is akin to returning to a 'decade ago, with less than one percent growth, 26-fold liquidity, inter-branch tensions, conflicts among the people, tensions with the leadership, and some issues' that have caused 'a gap between the people and the government and disruption in the governance of the country'. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf promised that if elected, he would 'fulfill the country's aspirations for economic growth and resolve current problems' and would create 'a bright horizon for the future with economic growth'. Pour-Mohammadi labeled some candidates as 'paving the way for the enemy' for sanctions Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, in summarizing his remarks, criticized those he called 'paving the way for the enemy'. He emphasized: 'For more than 15 years, we have been trapped in sanctions under various pretexts. The JCPOA and similar efforts are not magical solutions but national efforts to free ourselves from the trap of sanctions.' Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi stated: 'Some of these gentlemen, who today are asking for your votes eye to eye, have willingly or unwillingly, with delusion or compounded ignorance, paved the way for you to become more trapped in this trap.' Mr. Pour-Mohammadi added: 'Some of these gentlemen considered and still consider the sanctions, suffering, and agony of the Iranian nation as an opportunity and a blessing.' He further urged the people to make a correct and non-emotional choice to block the path for opportunity-wasters and newly wealthy individuals. Pezeshkian: I am not a tank, I am not a sniper Masoud Pezeshkian, in the final part of this debate, emphasized that he wants foreign policy to create stability and psychological comfort for every single Iranian. He will strive so that 'Iranians can plan for their future without anxiety and uncertainty about tomorrow.' This reformist candidate stated: 'I consider foreign policy the most important tool for improving relations with countries, normalizing economic and trade relations with the world through lifting sanctions, reviving the lucrative tourism industry, and improving the investment and business climate.' Mr. Pezeshkian, addressing the people, said: 'Today, the heart of Iran, the mother of all of us Iranians, is wounded and hurt, and I am a heart surgeon; I will be the comforter of your wounded hearts; O beloved people, I am not a tank, I am not a sniper, I am not a braggart, I am the dust at your feet, Masoud Pezeshkian.' The last debate of the Iranian presidential candidates will be held on Tuesday, focusing on 'government efficiency'. The 14th presidential election in Iran will take place on Friday, July 8.