Iran

As a pragmatic politician, Jahangiri is a member of the central council of the Servants of Construction Party. During the presidential televised debates his popularity rose greatly, even superseding Rouhani in some debates.

The six candidates approved for Iran's strictly vetted presidential ballot are appearing for the last of three live televised debates before the May 19 election. The topic is economics.

In three hours of blazing exchanges with his rivals, he took on targets once seen as all but untouchable, including the judicial establishment and the Revolutionary Guards, the elite military force that controls much of Iran's economy.

Angry exchanges have erupted during the final televised debate before Iran's presidential election next week.

The statements of support came during a debate that was broadcast live on Iranian state television, the second of three scheduled for the short campaign season.

The six candidates are Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim, Mostafa Hashemi-Taba, Es’haq Jahangiri, Hassan Rouhani, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi. There will be three live televised debates in total.

During a three-hour debate carried live on state television, the pragmatist Rouhani's opponents sought to denigrate his economic record and said that the Islamic Republic would be harmed if he were re-elected on May 19.

Iran will air live debates on state television ahead of May’s presidential election, the interior ministry said Sunday, reversing a decision to show recorded versions that had triggered an outcry.

La Comisión del Monitoreo de la Campaña Electoral ha anulado este sábado la decisión de no transmitir en directo el debate entre los seis candidatos a los comicios presidenciales de la República Islámica de Irán, ha informado el portavoz de la Cartera del Interior, Seyed Salman Samani.

“Live debates in [2009] had heavy costs and we should consider their entire aspects beforehand,” Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said on Saturday, ISNA reported.

The live broadcast of the debates among the presidential candidates would be “one of the best ways” to enhance the Iranians’ awareness and help them identify the best hopeful, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani said in an address to worshipers at the weekly Friday prayers in the Iranian capital

Live debates have been a hugely popular feature of the last two elections in 2009 and 2013, with many analysts saying Rouhani's performance was key to his surprise victory last time.