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With less than a week remaining before the Iranian regime’s sham presidential election, the atmosphere is charged with political tension. Candidates have been holding rallies in various cities, and three live televised debates have been conducted among the six candidates approved by the Guardian Council. On Saturday, June 22, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning to the candidates, urging them to refrain from making comments that could be perceived as pleasing to the regime’s adversaries.
Khamenei’s remarks came during a meeting with the head and senior officials of the regime’s judiciary. He stated, “My advice is that the debates and statements made by the candidates should not be such that they cause our enemies to rejoice.” This statement reflects the Supreme Leader’s lingering fear of a repeat of the post-election events of 2009 when intense rivalries and allegations among candidates fueled a major nationwide uprising.
The third presidential debate focused on issues like women’s rights, internet freedom, and cultural liberties. Candidates made numerous promises on topics traditionally used to deceive the public into voting, providing material for the regime’s propaganda machine, which aims to show that the clerical regime still enjoys some legitimacy.
As various regime factions desperately try to deceive people into participating in the upcoming sham #elections, remember this: On Aug 21, 2019, months before the 2019 uprising, then-FM Javad Zarif claimed the majority support the clerical dictatorship, citing over 70% turnout. pic.twitter.com/RuA0vIKfpd
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 20, 2024
Alireza Zakani once again targeted the administration of former President Hassan Rouhani, linking candidates Masoud Pezeshkian and Mostafa Pourmohammadi to Rouhani’s tenure. Zakani said, “Pezeshkian and Pourmohammadi were part of the previous administration that failed the people.” In response, Pezeshkian retorted, “It’s not necessary to respond to Zakani’s attacks. We don’t even know if he will stay in the race until the end.”
Additionally, Pourmohammadi remarked, “Some friends here are not serious candidates,” without directly naming Zakani. In response, Zakani accused Pezeshkian and Pourmohammadi of coordinating attacks against him through their campaign teams. He declared, “I will definitely stay in the race and will not let you become president.”
Mocking the other candidates’ stance on internet restrictions and women’s rights, Pezeshkian said, “We are all against internet censorship and for women’s dignity. So, who is appointing these morality police?” Zakani, who happens to be the sitting Tehran Mayor, perceived Pezeshkian’s remarks on hijab enforcement as a personal attack and rebuked him fiercely, saying, “Are you bringing up the hijab issue seriously or jokingly?”
However, despite his critique, Pezeshkian defended the complete shutdown of the internet during critical times, such as nationwide protests, revealing the unified stance of all factions within the regime regarding suppressing public dissent.
#Iranian Regime’s Desperate Efforts to Showcase Legitimacy Through Sham #Electionshttps://t.co/uNRhEA4B7p
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Pourmohammadi, attempting to portray a newfound interest in human rights, stated, “As someone who has served in the harshest security roles, I say we must be humble before women.”
Zakani differentiated between censorship and the controversial “Protection Bill“, advocating for only allowing platforms whose data servers are hosted in Iran, citing U.S. actions against TikTok.
Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi promoted online jobs for women as ideal, balancing work and household responsibilities, and criticized unplanned restrictions on digital platforms, calling the ban on Google Play “harassment of the people.”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf opposed gender equality but supported “gender justice,” claiming opposition to internet restrictions except under security priorities similar to the 2021 protests. He emphasized the need for the “National Information Network,” a domestic network limiting access to the global internet, and praised Supreme Leader Khamenei’s cultural influence, stating, “Khamenei is not just a political leader but also a prominent cultural figure known worldwide.”
Meanwhile, various regime officials continue to push for higher voter turnout. Former Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif emphasized the importance of voting to prevent “bad politicians” from taking office, indirectly criticizing the ongoing boycott movements. He warned, “On election day, many want people to stay home, including those profiting from continued sanctions and those seeking to attack Iran.”