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Following repeated warnings from the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Guardian Council, the Ministry of Interior, and the Election Headquarters, the first debate among the regime’s loyalist candidates for the sham election took place. However, this televised event was so poorly received that state media labeled it a “non-debate,” describing it as lackluster and disappointing.
Farhikhtegan newspaper, associated with Ali-Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Khamenei, headlined “Non-debate!” and commented, “The generally repetitive discussions by the candidates, which were also presented in economic roundtables, will not help increase voter turnout. The performance level of some candidates was such that, instead of sparking social mobilization, it raised questions about the Guardian Council’s criteria for approving candidates.”
A media outlet affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards wrote, “The first debate could be considered the last. It is evident that the most significant impact of this debate is that subsequent ones will have even fewer viewers.”
The state-run Mostaqel Online also noted, “So far, the debate has succeeded in deterring a large portion of undecided voters from participating in the elections altogether.”
#Iran’s Regime Prepares to Rig Presidential #Election Results in Crisis Management Strategyhttps://t.co/RPzVhxEd5b
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 16, 2024
Sazandegi newspaper stated, “The first debate was designed in such a way that the moderator repeatedly honored Raisi. The three program moderators constantly delayed the main event with their lengthy speeches.”
Following the embarrassing display, Khamenei’s office issued a statement declaring, “Some candidates or their campaign staff have quoted the Leader of the Revolution or his office officials inaccurately or incompletely. Such unfounded quotes or personal interpretations lack credibility and should be avoided.”
Meanwhile, Kayhan newspaper warned the Principlist candidates against breaking each other’s votes, stating, “Do not let personal desires prevent you from stepping aside and repeating the 2013 scenario.”
In response to attacks against Hassan Rouhani during the debates and roundtables, the former regime president requested a chance to respond on state television. Rouhani’s office sent a letter to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), asking for an opportunity to address the allegations made by some candidates during the debates.
Despite the highly engineered and orchestrated nature of the debate, candidates actually did admit to some of the regime’s disastrous policies and failures.
#Iranian Election Candidates Vie for Supreme Leader’s Favor, Not Public Approvalhttps://t.co/CjldnfVFOC
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 13, 2024
Amir Masoud Qazizadeh Hashemi: “These promises lead people to hold hopes because of the candidates’ high-level positions. When these promises are not fulfilled, many people become disillusioned and turn away from the ballot box.”
Alireza Zakani: “The real problem is that people earn in rials but spend according to the dollar rates we’ve set.”
Mostafa Pourmohammadi: “Some initially claimed that sanctions were not a major issue, and they continue to say so now. The world imposed crippling sanctions on us, and we are casually overlooking this.”
Qazizadeh Hashemi: “We heard general statements again, the same ones that people believed and gave us a chance, but it created a decade of negative economic growth for us.”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: “We are wasting resources. More than nine million barrels of our total fossil energy are wasted, amounting to 17.5 percent.”
Masoud Pezeshkian: “For forty years, we’ve said we’ll fix things, but our money’s value keeps dropping, purchasing power is declining, and printing more money just devalues it further. Where will the money come from?”
Alireza Zakani: “Dear people, let these discouraging remarks not disappoint you. We have mixed up everything, confusing. It’s surprising how this gentleman became a presidential candidate, which amazes us.”
State Officials in #Iran Criticize Election Engineering, Experts Warn Khameneihttps://t.co/cBq5eIzvhq
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 11, 2024
Mostafa Pourmohammadi: “People who don’t trust us have lost their investments in the stock market. They convert their money to dollars and gold and hide it away, unwilling to invest in production. We can’t achieve economic growth without building trust.”
Saeed Jalili: “A few months ago, I visited a factory in Doroud, Lorestan, that once employed 1,200 workers. Today, only four guards remain. Recently, we visited AzarAb, where production dropped from 3,000 tons to 70 tons. HEPCO went from producing 1,800 construction machines to virtually nothing due to poor management.”
M.B. Ghalibaf: “Many of our problems stem from poor planning and decision-making, which is shrinking people’s livelihoods.”
M.B. Ghalibaf: “We suddenly declared the [dollar] exchange rate to be 4,200 tomans without clear justification, leaving experts and scholars dumbfounded. We then wonder why our academics are emigrating.”
Masoud Pezeshkian: “Right now, we have a budget deficit of 300-400 trillion tomans, excluding other financial obligations imposed on the government. The reality is, we are to blame.”
Alireza Zakani: “We know who the incompetent ones are; they weren’t outsiders but have been here, running the government, and some are even in your campaign team now.”
Masoud Pezeshkian: “Our brother Mr. Zakani should also kindly shed some light on the contract with China. Then he should tell us whether the funds come from the Central Bank of Iran in China or from China’s resources. Trashing each other and tearing each other down is not in the best interest of the country or the revolution. Don’t push me to the point where I have to keep pointing out people’s flaws.”
