Ghazizadeh Documentary Airs

The first of three documentaries produced for Amir-Hossein Ghzaizadeh Hashemi’s campaign aired tonight on national television. In the film, Ghazizadeh promotes his plans for Iran, “a government of peace”, as well as his image, introducing his family life. The film drew criticism online, with many Iranians calling the production derivative of the work of Iranian director Iraj Maleki. Another scene where Ghazizadeh spreads out a dining cloth (sofreh) over a carpet has been compared to the family garden scene in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 2005 campaign documentary. Each candidate has been allocated airtime and resources to produce three half-hour campaign documentaries.

Click on the headline to watch the full documentary on YouTube

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Jalili and Zakani Both Talk Tough on Smuggling

Saeed Jalili started the day talking about his plans to tackle smuggling, saying that the practice, which is harmful to the country, is not limited to smugglers at the border, but rather his government will have to tackle the issue of a larger mafia which includes corruption of officials. Later that afternoon, Ali-Reza Zakani added his thoughts on the issue, saying “we have to eliminate profitability of smuggling by regulating the market, dealing with the causes of smuggling while also hunting those involved”.

Watch Saeed Jalili’s comments at Mashregh
Read Ali-Reza Zakani’s comments at Mehr

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Rezaei attacks Hemmati and Raisi

Mohsen Rezaei took aim at Abdol-Naser Hemmati’s record as Governor of the Central Bank in an interview today. Rezaei, who is putting himself forward as an expert on economy, saying that Hemmati has abandoned control over liquidity during his term as Governor, and allowed inflation to get out of control. Rezaei also made a reference to the protection of Ebrahim Raisi, mentioning comments by the Tehran Prosecutor that criticism of the judiciary by the candidates constitutes a red line. Reformist candidate Mohsen Mehr-Alizadeh also criticised the red line issue, saying that Raisi should have resigned as Chief Justice by now and implying he was using his position to deflect criticism.

Read and watch Rezaei’s interview at Tasnim
Read Mehr-Alizadeh’s Tweet on Twitter

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Disputed Dates of Presidential Debates

A spokesman for the Presidential Election Headquarters announced that the dates of the Presidential candidates’ debates (June 7, 11 and 15) will have to move as they coincide with World Cup Qualifiers for the Iranian national football team. In order to get the maximum audience, the debates will be held on different nights, to be announced soon, but more likely they will be held the night before or after the football matches. However, later in the day, the Director of the IRIB, the national broadcaster, said that the dates and times are definite and will not change, and the times will not conflict with the football matches.

Read about the Election Headquarters’ Statement at ISNA.
Read about the IRIB statement at IRNA

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Raisi Visits Abbasabad Industrial Park

Ebrahim Raisi visited the Abbasabad Industrial Park to meet with workers and owners. Raisi said his government would be a coalition government that will include both workers and owners, bridging the industrial divide in order to fulfill his slogan, a “Strong Iran”. Speaking in military terminology, Raisi described workers and owners as soldiers and officers fighting the economic battles for Iran.

Read more at Tasnim

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