Presidential candidates Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian discussed foreign policy, voter turnout, and other issues during the first televised debate of the runoffs this Monday night.
The two candidates for Iran’s presidency who could make it to the runoff round held their first televised debate this Monday night, discussing foreign policy, voter turnout, and other issues.
According to Iran’s state media, IRNA, former health minister Masoud Pezeshkian and former chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili who qualified for the second round of the 14th presidential election presented their views and plans on the aforementioned areas three days ahead of the election on this coming Friday.
When asked how either of the contenders would work to encourage people to turn out on Friday as compared to the 40% participation in the first round of balloting, Jalili said that “the Islamic Establishment is proud to be based on people’s votes”, adding that has plans to increase people’s participation in policy-making. “If Iran has power, progress, and success, it is the result of people’s participation,” Jalili said.
For his part, Pezeshkian said he regretted the low participation in the first round of the election and said “turnout was low and concerning”.
He also noted that there are laws and programs that must be implemented, adding that “If we want to increase participation (of people in elections), they must believe that officials sit at the same table as they do.”
What either candidate said on foreign policy?
Regarding the important issue of foreign policy approach and foreign relations, Pezeshkian backed former President Hassan Rouhani’s foreign policy, especially inking the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He also stressed that international sanctions must be removed and if elected as president, he would intensify efforts to approve the FATF-related bills by relevant Iranian bodies to expand trade relations with the world.
Jalili rebuked returning to zero-sum negotiations with the West and said we only gave concessions in JCPOA negotiations and gained nothing in return. “We must definitely have a dynamic, active, and successful foreign policy, but If we want to gain benefits from those with whom we have most differences, it will certainly not be achieved through,” Jalili said.
He also noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported 14 times that Iran had fulfilled its commitments under the JCPOA, but the other side completely pulled out of the deal, referring to Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the deal back in 2018. “Let’s not accuse our own nation and absolve the other side. The IAEA said Iran fulfilled its commitments, and I say we even went beyond our commitments. But what was the result? They withdrew and sanctions increased from 800 to 1500,” Jalili explained.
The two contenders also discussed internet, cyberspace, listening to the concerns of people, including artists, athletes, ethnic groups, and university members, students and youth, and how to treat people with justice and fairness, etc.
