On July 5, Iran held televised debates between the two candidates running for president, Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian, a former health minister, accused Jalili, a former head of Iran’s nuclear negotiating delegation and adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, of lacking management experience. “Have you ever managed a company in your life? On what basis do you claim to run a country?” he asked.
In response, Jalili made accusations against his rival. According to him, Pezeshkian intended to throw Iran back to the past, specifically the era of President Hassan Rouhani, who was considered moderate. Jalili promised that with popular support he would achieve annual economic growth of 8%. Pezeshkian laughed at this statement and questioned whether Jalili would be willing to pay the price for such a promise.
Both candidates encouraged citizens to participate in the upcoming election and presented their visions for the future of Iran. Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of management experience in governing the country while Jalili focused on economic growth and accused his opponent of trying to return to outdated policies. It is clear that both candidates are determined to win over voters and secure their place as president. The televised debates gave voters an opportunity to better understand the divergent views and strategies of the two contenders. The outcome of the election will determine which candidate will lead Iran for the next presidential term and shape its future direction.
