TEHRAN – Schedules of the six candidates running for president in the June 28 elections were abuzz with activities and interviews, as they faced conflicting views on their announced policies

Each of the six candidates has selected a campaign manager. Notably, Ali Nikzad, the former Iranian minister of housing and urban development, has been chosen by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to lead the candidate's promotional efforts. Nikzad was unable to secure approval from the Guardian Council to run as a candidate.

The candidate who garnered the most attention on Tuesday was Masoud Pezeshkian, seen as the reformists' sole chance to reclaim influence. Pezeshkian's earlier statements on national television drew backlash from conservatives, who argued that the candidates appear to lack concrete strategies for crucial matters such as the economy, housing, and foreign policy.

Pezeshkian’s supporters and prominent figures holding moderate and reformist views were quick to come to his defense. The secretary-general of the Servants of Construction Party argued that even though Pezeshkian has outlined no plans, he would never do something “detrimental” to the general public as he is “close to the masses”.  

Notably, former Vice President Is’haq Jahangiri, another face among the 74 failing to run for president this year, announced his full support for Pezeshkian. “He is the epitome of sincerity, assertiveness, courage, and moral living,” Jahangiri wrote in a post on X. 

Jahangiri was the vice president under Hassan Rouhani, who won the presidential elections twice with high votes. While the former vice president is undoubtedly considered to be a valuable source of support for Pezeshkian, analysts argue that the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has caused many voters to decouple from Rouhani and his allies, potentially limiting Jahangiri's influence in helping Pezeshkian collect votes. 

Remarks by conservatives on national television did not seem to stir much debate on Tuesday. Reformists and moderates mostly drew on previous assumptions to portray some of them as politicians with no flexibility. 

However, a prominent analyst suggested that none of the four conservatives stand a chance of winning the presidency unless some of them withdraw in support of others. Similar cautionary signals suggest that Pezeshkian may still present a significant challenge to his conservative rivals, despite uncertainties surrounding his popularity.
 
Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who is believed to hold somewhat moderate views, also spoke to the people on Tuesday. In his remarks, he had a vague emphasis on “happiness”, stating that the government should prepare means of becoming and staying happy for the citizens.