Tehran, 18 June 2024 — Ahead of the upcoming June 28 election, Iran's six presidential candidates engaged in their first televised debate on Monday, June 17. The debate, which lasted four hours, was broadcast nationally and allowed each candidate to present their economic recovery plans amid ongoing Western sanctions, according to the AP news agency.

All six candidates pledged to work towards lifting the sanctions and discussed potential reforms to improve the country's economy. Tehran has planned a series of five debates leading up to the election, providing a platform for candidates to outline their strategies and policies.

Among the six candidates, five are recognized as hardliners. The frontrunner in the race appears to be Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf, the former mayor of Tehran. Despite being a reformist, heart surgeon Masoud Pezheshkian is considered a strong contender, competing on equal footing with the hardliners.

The presidential election was necessitated by the tragic death of President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident on May 19 in Zolfa, a region bordering Azerbaijan. The accident also claimed the lives of Iran's foreign minister, the governor of East Azerbaijan, and several other officials. Following Raisi's death, Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar, aged 68, assumed the role of interim president as per Iran's constitution.

This election is crucial as it will determine Raisi's successor and potentially reshape Iran's approach to economic and international policies. The final debate and subsequent election results are highly anticipated both within Iran and by the international community.