In Photos: Iran`s prez candidates debate economic policies ahead of elections

Updated On: 18 June, 2024 09:37 AM IST | ronak mastakar

Six presidential candidates discussed Iran`s economic problems in a four-hour live debate on state TV, ahead of the June 28 presidential election following a helicopter crash last month that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others (Pics/AFP)

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<p>The debate on Monday was the first of five planned in the 10 days remaining before the vote in a shortened campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once floated as a possible successor to the 85-year-old cleric</p>

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The debate on Monday was the first of five planned in the 10 days remaining before the vote in a shortened campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protégé of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once floated as a possible successor to the 85-year-old cleric

<p>The candidates were to discuss their proposals and plans for Iran`s spiralling economy, struggling under sanctions from the United States and other Western nations</p>

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The candidates were to discuss their proposals and plans for Iran`s spiralling economy, struggling under sanctions from the United States and other Western nations

<p>They all promised they would try and get the sanctions lifted and introduce reforms but none offered any details. The candidates also discussed inflation, the budget deficit, Iran`s housing problem and ways to fight corruption</p>

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They all promised they would try and get the sanctions lifted and introduce reforms but none offered any details. The candidates also discussed inflation, the budget deficit, Iran`s housing problem and ways to fight corruption

<p>The June 28 election comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran`s rapidly advancing nuclear programme, its arming of Russia in that country`s war on Ukraine and its wide-reaching crackdowns on dissent</p>

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The June 28 election comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran`s rapidly advancing nuclear programme, its arming of Russia in that country`s war on Ukraine and its wide-reaching crackdowns on dissent

<p>Iran`s support of militia proxy forces throughout the wider Middle East, meanwhile, have, been increasingly in the spotlight as Iran-backed Yemen`s Houthi rebels attack ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip</p>

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Iran`s support of militia proxy forces throughout the wider Middle East, meanwhile, have, been increasingly in the spotlight as Iran-backed Yemen`s Houthi rebels attack ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip

<p>Five of the candidates are hard-liners while the sixth candidate, lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian, 69, is a heart surgeon who has the support of some pro-reformers</p>

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Five of the candidates are hard-liners while the sixth candidate, lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian, 69, is a heart surgeon who has the support of some pro-reformers

<p>The most prominent candidate remains Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country`s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, many remember that Qalibaf, as a former Guard general, was part of a violent crackdown on Iranian university students in 1999. He also reportedly ordered live gunfire to be used against students in 2003 while serving as the country`s police chief</p>

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The most prominent candidate remains Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country`s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, many remember that Qalibaf, as a former Guard general, was part of a violent crackdown on Iranian university students in 1999. He also reportedly ordered live gunfire to be used against students in 2003 while serving as the country`s police chief

<p>Among those running for president are also Iran`s vice-president, Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, 53, and the current Tehran mayor, Ali Reza Zakani 58. A member of Supreme National Security Council, 58-year-old Saeed Jalili and cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi, 64, a previous interior minister under former relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, are also in the race</p>

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Among those running for president are also Iran`s vice-president, Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, 53, and the current Tehran mayor, Ali Reza Zakani 58. A member of Supreme National Security Council, 58-year-old Saeed Jalili and cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi, 64, a previous interior minister under former relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, are also in the race

<p>Qalibaf promised he would be a "strong" president who would support the poor, better manage the economy and effort to remove sanctions through diplomatic means</p>

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Qalibaf promised he would be a "strong" president who would support the poor, better manage the economy and effort to remove sanctions through diplomatic means

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In Photos: Iran`s prez candidates debate economic policies ahead of elections

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Breaking barriers and building pyramids — Women power in action!