Iran presidential debates: Conservative candidate accuses opponent of seeking to return country to past

In the lead-up to the second round of presidential elections on July 5, televised debates were held between the remaining candidates, conservative Saeed Jalili and moderate candidate Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian, a former health minister, launched a personal attack on his opponent, accusing him of lacking managerial experience. "Tell me, have you ever managed a single company in your life? On what basis do you claim the right to govern the country?" he asked Jalili, the former head of Iran's nuclear negotiation delegation and advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Jalili also leveled accusations against his rival, claiming that Pezeshkian aims to push Iran back to the past, specifically to the moderate President Hassan Rouhani era. The main achievement of Rouhani's administration was the nuclear agreement with the West.

Jalili promised that, with popular support, he would achieve an annual economic growth of 8%. This prompted Pezeshkian to ask mockingly if he was willing to put his head on the line for such a claim. In a rare moment of agreement, both candidates urged citizens to participate in the voting, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement in the democratic process.