TEHRAN, Iran: On Tuesday, Iranian presidential candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili engaged in a live debate to discuss their approaches to handling economic sanctions and reviving the nuclear deal with world powers.
This debate came ahead of Friday’s runoff election, which follows the untimely death of President Ebrahim Raisi.
Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist and cardiac surgeon, highlighted the severe economic impact of Western-imposed sanctions, citing a 40 percent inflation rate and rising poverty. He pledged to prioritize lifting sanctions and reviving the economy by negotiating a nuclear deal with the parliament’s involvement. Pezeshkian emphasized the need for economic recovery and criticized the inability of any government to thrive under severe restrictions.
On the other hand, Saeed Jalili, a hard-line former nuclear negotiator, stressed that the United States must honor its commitments if Iran is to fulfill its own. Known for his stringent stance and his nickname, the “Living Martyr,” Jalili argued that Pezeshkian lacked a concrete plan for sanction relief. He committed to resuming nuclear deal discussions and promised to support the stock exchange and local industries through financial means.
Both candidates committed to revitalizing the economy, supporting energy subsidies for the poor, and boosting the domestic auto industry. However, neither elaborated on the funding sources required to fulfill these promises.
This runoff election, only the second since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, follows a low voter turnout of 39.9 percent, with over a million ballots rejected. The candidates’ contrasting visions reflect the ongoing debate within Iran about how to navigate the challenges posed by economic sanctions and international diplomacy.
