ALWAGHT- Masoud Pezeshkian and Saeed Jalili engaged in their first one-on-one debate of the Iranian presidential race on Monday night, ahead of the July 5 runoff election.
Pezeshkian and Jalili, the top two candidates from the June 28 nationwide presidential election, are set to compete in the final round of voting next Friday.
Pezeshkian received 42.45% of the votes, while Jalili, the runner-up, obtained 38.61%.
During last night's televised debate, the discussion focused on political and cultural issues.
The candidates alternated in addressing ten different questions, presenting their plans on various economic topics, and sharing their perspectives on the 40% voter turnout in the June 28 election. They also discussed potential gasoline price increases, proposals for allowing legal protests, limits on virtual space and improving Internet access, Iran’s accession to FATF, and negotiations regarding the removal of sanctions.
The second debate is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
This countrywide election is being held a year earlier than planned due to the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May.
On May 19, a helicopter carrying President Raisi and his entourage crashed in the northwestern mountainous forests, resulting in the deaths of the president, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and six others.
