Zakani: I Am the Leader of the Reformists

Conservative candidate Ali-Reza Zakani described himself as the head of the Reformists, saying he has done a great deal towards reforming and transforming the country. However, he clarified what he meant by adding “if we consider the Reformists as a political sect, they have sabotaged so much that I believe society does not give acknowledge them”. Zakani also once again reacted angrily when asked if he was a cover candidate for Ebrahim Raisi.

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Zakani: Don’t Call Me a Cover Candidate

Ali-Reza Zakani reacted angrily to a question on television program today about whether he is a cover candidate for Ebrahim Raisi. Zakani said that the question was insulting to both him and Raisi, emphasising he had presented a sophisticated platform for the presidency and that perhaps he had “more plans [for government] than the other six [candidates]”. 

Read more at IRIB

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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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Zakani: The US will Beg to Lift Sanctions

Ali-Reza Zakani said in an online interview, that once elected, the United States would beg Iran to return to the JCPOA, and this would mean the lifting of sanctions. Despite describing the JCPOA as a defective agreement, Zakani said that the US is desperate to return to it, and he would be able to facilitate to Iran’s advantage. In the same interview Zakani was asked about his wealth, where he revealed that he and his wife own three properties in Tehran and Qom.

Read more at Khabaronline

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Broadcast of Zakani Interview Delayed for Censorship

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.

Read more at IRNA

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Hemmati and Zakani in Twitter War

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. 

Read more at the Young Journalists Club

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