Iran witnessed on Tuesday its last televised debate of five in total that took place in the past week, only three days ahead of the presidential elections set to take place on Friday, June 28.

The six candidates presented their cases for the final time as part of the round table in an attempt to win over voters just before the electoral silence on Thursday.

On the day before the debates, polling data released by Iranian organizations ISPA and Meta on Monday suggested that the competition is currently limited to three main contenders: Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, in addition to conservative candidates Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Saeed Jalili.

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After a slow start, Pezeshkian’s numbers soared in both polls, placing him in the lead with 24.4% supporter base.

On the other hand, Qalibaf’s results varied significantly between the two surveys, coming in third according to ISPA with 14.7% support, and 23.4% as per Meta. Meanwhile, Jalili nearly tied with Pezeshkian in the ISPA poll with 24% support but dropped to third place in the Meta survey with 21.5%.

Candidates Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and Alireza Zakani are lagging far behind in the race, as the figures showed.

Both organizations projected a voter turnout of around 51.7% in the survey conducted between June 20-23.

Recent reports suggested that any of the two conservative candidates might withdraw in favor of the other, aiming to unify conservative voters against the sole reformist runner Pezeshkian. Jalili has so far expressed no interest or intent in pursuing such action, while Qalibaf publicly denied stepping down from the competition.

Read more: Iranian presidential candidates outline diverse programs, priorities

In the case that the three top contenders compete in the polls on June 28, the Islamic Republic would likely be heading toward a runoff elections on July 5. 

However, while Qalibaf’s main support base is comprised of conservatives, a significant number of his current supporters are supporters of reformist former President Hassan Rouhani. According to analysts, if Qalibaf decided to pull out of the race, even if he endorsed Jalili, many of his potential voters are expected to vote in favor of Pezeshkian, putting the only conservative candidate Jalili at risk of losing the elections.

Sources from Jalili’s campaign told Al Mayadeen that the conservative candidate favors a three-way race, as a runoff win would indicate stronger and more concrete support for the future president. But other informed sources suggested that, if the three candidates compete on election day and one conservative advances to the runoff, it could lead to a division among the conservative support base. This division might either result in losing the election or electing a president perceived as not fully representing a significant portion of conservatives, which could negatively impact his term and government.

Key takeaways from the top contenders’ debate addresses

In his opening argument, Qalibaf emphasized the impact of the upcoming elections on inflation, economic prosperity, and the future of Iran.

According to the prominent conservative candidate: by voting, the Iranian people will influence inflation rates, salary adjustments for employees, workers, and retirees, and the proper adjustment of pensions. The election will determine whether production units continue operating or become defunct, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right president.

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Addressing the economic situation further, he said that immediate and correct decisions by the elected president are crucial to prevent inflation and avoid selling out the country or stirring up tension. Qalibaf pledged to continue the path of late President Ebrahim Raisi and complete the projects he started.

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The candidate urges the nation to prioritize participation in the election, equating it to a "warrior's participation in the Sacred Defense, essential for national security."

Mentioning his long experience in key official positions, anddd hinting at less-experienced candidates, he said that the executive branch is not a place for trial and error, as it involves people's lives, reputations, time, and money.

Additionally, Qalibaf emphasized the importance of not relying on foreign intervention to assist Iran in its needs across fields, especially economically.

He presented a “five-point priority plan” that aims to bridge the gap between inflation and people's wages with protective measures. According to Qalibaf, the suggested plan covers essential goods under a welfare card and emphasizes the importance of housing for family peace. It also plans to address the car market by allowing car imports, tackle the eastern border wall issue, and pursue establishing a second economic capital on the Indian Ocean coast. Additionally, he advocated for centralizing villages and ensuring job security for vulnerable village heads and farmers, aiming to bring employment back to rural areas.

Masoud Pezeshkian 

For his part, Pezeshkian said that, if elected, his focus would be on addressing the hardships of Western-imposed economic sanctions, including placing the country on a path of reforming production infrastructure and resolving energy inefficiencies, ensuring more efficient and sustainable economic practices.

Criticizing the government as the main cause of inflation, he argued that the government unfairly blames producers and shopkeepers and proposed funneling “wasted” government money into improving the living conditions of workers and civil servants.

According to him, "inflation, unemployment, instability, and unjustifiable taxes" are the country's primary problems, and the incoming president's most important task is to address why these issues remain unresolved.

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Regarding Iran’s youth, Pezeshkian said that he would ensure building a “bridge of communication” between the government and the younger generation, to foster better understanding and cooperation. He added that he would respect and recognize the vast diversity among the Iranian nation as a strength to the nation.

Pezeshkian also highlighted the support of the Iran leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei for the country's progress, viewing this support as a crucial asset in resolving internal disputes and breaking deadlocks.

On international relations, he stressed the necessity of improving connections with the world, stating that no country can achieve prosperity and growth by “closing its borders,” referring to the importance of continuing talks with the West, especially about the nuclear agreement.

Saeed Jalili

In his address, Saeed Jalili emphasized the importance of understanding and leveraging the country's capacities, focusing on economic growth, efficient government operation, and addressing the needs of marginalized groups.

Jalili stressed the importance of being present in various cities and villages to understand the country's capacities, rather than “wasting time on political bickering.”

According to the candidate, the Islamic Republic needs to achieve an 8% growth as mentioned in the fifth development plan adopted during late President Raisi’s term in 2023, focusing on areas such as foreign exchange earnings, employment, investment attraction, and leveraging technological opportunities, emphasizing the role of young specialists in driving genuine progress.

Read more: Resistance Front of Islamic Iran says supports Jalili in elections

He presented two main priorities: foreign exchange earnings and employment, emphasizing their importance in addressing inflation and exchange rate concerns. Jalili’s comment comes as Iran continues its years-long battle against high levels of currency volatility and a significant gap between government and black-market currency rates.

Jalili pointed out that the "large government apparatus" consumes 80% of Iran's spending budget, arguing that government programs can only be implemented effectively when it is functioning and operating properly. The candidate said he prepared 25 orders, which he would issue “in the first month of the new government” in case he won the elections, to address identified problems within the government.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Jalili addressed social issues and challenges.

He criticized the media for censoring large parts of society, particularly women who are “heads of households, rural women, and housewives.” He stressed the importance of allocating a fair budget for villages, noting that 27% of Iran’s population lives in villages, which produce more than 50% of the country's sports medalists. Jalili added that villages should not be viewed as places of poverty and deprivation but as potential hubs for national progress.

He also advocated for job security for “workers in corporate companies” and reducing intermediary costs to benefit the workers directly, saying that the workers should “participate in the efficiency of their companies, both economically and mentally.”

Lastly, Jalili pointed out that the Islamic Republic needs to develop its non-oil export economy, by devising proper programs to compete in global markets, particularly in “clothing production.” He said that Iran can achieve a clothing-manufacturing industry that can compete with China and other countries. According to Jalili, he will address nine executive programs watershed management, greenhouse expansion, land consolidation, and more. He also said the scheme aims to end the need for water delivery by tankers in the next government.