Iranian television channel Jam-e Jam announced that they had had to delay the broadcast of an interview with Ali-Reza Zakani because they considered some parts of the interview inappropriate, and will instead broadcast an edited version soon. Zakani responded, saying that he reserved his right to complain to the electoral commission, complaining that the national media had insulted him and they must be held accountable.
Mohsen Rezaei promised that if elected, he will provide a monthly subsidy of $100 US to approximately 40 million Iranians classified as on a low income (roughly half of the population). Rezaei said that reforms to taxation, eliminating tax evasion, increased petroleum production and livestock exports will pay for the subsidy.
Ebrahim Raisi used his allocated airtime on national television to put forward his economic plan. Raisi promised that if elected he will reduce inflation by increasing production and planning under a coordinated, centralised economic team, adding that through his plan “it will be possible to reduce inflation to single digits”.
In a statement that mirrored disqualified candidate Mohsen Hashemi, candidate Abdol-Naser Hemmati said that he will only serve one four year term as his “goal is for the government to be technical and not political”, meaning his administration will not be restrained by the need for re-election. Hemmati is the governor of the Central Bank of Iran, and has promised that “if this government is formed, it will be the first government headed by economists”.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an address to members of the Majles, backed the Guardian Council’s decision making in determining the electoral list, thanking candidates for nominating, especially those who did not complain when they were disqualified. Khamenei also issued a stern warning to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, saying that those who were once leaders of the country should not restyle themselves as a kind of opposition, adding that those who do will be held accountable.
Rival candidates Abdol-Nasser Hemmati and Ali-Reza Zakani engaged in a Twitter battle today over the economy. After Hemmati said that he was standing as a voice for the silent majority, Zakani commented that people’s silence benefited Hemmati, before joking that if elected, he would make Hemmati the governor of the Central Bank (his current role) for life on the condition that Hemmati increase the value of the national currency. Hemmati hit back saying Zakani obviously had no understanding of economics and any second-year undergraduate student can teach him how the value of national currency is determined.
Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi promised that if elected, he will give 500 million tomans, roughly $20,000 US, to each young couple to help with the costs of marriage and housing. While promises of subsidies are common in election seasons, this is a particularly large promise.
Saeed Mohammad issued a statement about his disqualification two days after the official list was announced, saying that the Guardian Council’s decision was binding and that he was willing to offer his help for the good of the system, particularly the conservative establishment.
President Hassan Rouhani said that on Tuesday night he wrote to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to express his reservations about the candidates disqualified from this election. Rouhani outlined his anxieties in the speech, saying “What will happen to our national cohesion if, God forbid, the presence in the elections is low?” He added that “The soul of elections is competition; if you take this from the elections, the body will become lifeless. The principle of elections is that there should be intense competition to form real elections”.
Frontrunner candidate Ebrahim Raisi said that his campaign would focus on improving the economic situation of Iranians. Citing his slogan – “a people’s government for a strong Iran” – Raisi said “a strong Iran cannot be achieved without a strong economy”, adding his focus would be developing a more transparent financial market in Iran and eliminating corruption. Later, Raisi took to Twitter to launch another slogan – “I have tasted poverty, not merely heard about it” - appealing to poorer voters by pointing to his humble origins.