Iran’s State TV Chief Outlines Presidential Debates Amid Tight Control

Iran's upcoming televised presidential election debate will be held under strict government control, according to Iran's broadcast chief.

Peyman Jebelli, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), said the debates, slated as the main event of the election broadcasts, are set to last between three and a half to four hours.

The announcement comes after the Sunday confirmation by the Guardian Council of the final list of candidates for Iran’s snap presidential election on June 28—a list unsurprisingly dominated by hardliners loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and all male. 

Among those approved are Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Supreme National Security Council representative Saeed Jalili, and Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani, all known for their conservative stances. The roster also includes former Justice and Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi, current Vice President Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, and Masoud Pezeshkian, a 'reformist' parliamentarian.

Jebelli said that the main topics for the debate would be distributed to the candidates' headquarters in advance to aid their preparation, yet the unresolved selection of debate moderators raises concerns about potential bias and manipulation.

In a display of the intent to control the narrative, Jebelli stated, “To prevent slander, defamation, and maligning against candidates, IRIB will definitely address electoral misconduct on behalf of the people and the government. We will assist the candidates in responding to attacks. We will expose and deal with the elements causing destruction, as this is the demand of the people and the Supreme Leader.”