Iran’s Jalili, Pezeshkian spar over sanctions as calls for boycott grow
Iran's supreme leader remained silent on the record-low turnout seen last week, and state media went out of their way to draw in more voters to prevent further embarrassment.
TEHRAN — The two candidates competing in Iran's presidential runoff this Friday faced off in a televised live debate on Monday, during which they accused one another of failing to present efficient solutions to address the country's various internal and external crises.
The Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili came first and second, with 42.5% and 38.6% respectively, in last Friday's first round vote, which was boycotted by over 60% of the eligible voters in an apparent expression of discontent from a disenchanted electorate grappling with long-standing economic and social maladies.
There have been no reputable recent polls regarding the prospects for a face-off between the two.
Repeatedly interrupting one another, the two candidates stood at the ends of two extremes when discussing foreign policy, sanctions, the fate of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Islamic Republic's hijab rules and authorities' severe restrictions on public internet use.
