The first campaign documentary of Ali-Reza Zakani went to air this evening. In contrast to the documentaries of other candidates, Zakani’s documentary follows a simpler style cinematographically, which is meant to emphasise his lack of pretence.
The first campaign documentary of Ali-Reza Zakani went to air this evening. In contrast to the documentaries of other candidates, Zakani’s documentary follows a simpler style cinematographically, which is meant to emphasise his lack of pretence.
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.
Click the headline for a summary of the first candidates’ debate of the campaign.
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]”.
Ali-Reza Zakani today said that he is not opposed to negotiations over the JCPOA, but he is against decisions made in twenty minutes, adding that “today’s talks in Vienna are the last auction of the Rouhani administration”.
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
Ali Rabii, the official spokesperson for the Government of Iran, criticised promises of subsidies made by a number of candidates. Rabii described many of the promises as “imaginary” and warned them about lying to voters, saying any promises should be backed up with an economic plan. Ghazizadeh, Rezaei and Zakani have all made promises of subsidies in recent days.
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.
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.
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.