Ghazizadeh Defends Raisi's Foreign Policy

Masoud Pezeshkian stressed internal consensus for confronting internal and external challenges, implicitly referring to responsiveness to public opinion. He also defended the JCPOA nuclear deal briefly and called for resolving the issue of sanctions.

He said the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) was signed by the very administration that his rivals "criticize and find fault with, yet now they are seeking to finalize and resolve it."

"The JCPOA belonged to the previous government, which the brothers criticize, but now they are trying to finalize and solve it. The JCPOA was an advantage of the past government, but with the obstacles that were created, it was not allowed to succeed. The dispute is about whose name it should carry!" he explained.

"In the region, we have the potential to be a transit hub from east to west and bring significant benefits. Why haven't we achieved this? Because we are in conflict both among ourselves and with our neighbors," Pezeshkian added.

He said the Islamic Republic must "address the sanctions and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) issues if it wants to resolve economic problems and improve relations with the world."

Highlighting internal political discord, Pezeshkian pointed out that achieving consensus and satisfying the general public are crucial steps toward solving economic and international problems.

His remarks remained general, calling for resolution of issues with other countries, but did not offer details.

Parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf described the international pressure on Iran as “opportunities,” referring to remarks by former commander of IRGC Quds force Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US targeted killing.

His intention is to pursue regime's plans and priorities. However, the Islamic Republic has many "open files" that need to be addressed and closed. This can refer to Iran's "nuclear file".

Ghalibaf raised the issue of the December 2021 nuclear bill, which increased uranium enrichment and reduced international inspections. He said that Iran needs to stick to Khamenei's guidelines. "The Supreme Leader stressed that this law will be our strategy," Ghalibaf said.

Ghalibaf said he will "definitely negotiate" with the West if elected, and he will "certainly clinch a deal within the framework of the Islamic Republic's macro policies."

"Any agreement that has economic benefits for Iran will be pursued step by step and action by action," he said.

He also dismissed his pro-reform rival Masoud Pezeshkian's advisor Javad Zarif's claim that the parliament obstructed the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal by passing the Strategic Action Plan to Lift Sanctions and Protect Iranian Nation's Interest, saying "the Strategic Action Plan is no obstacle to the removal of sanctions."

The first batch of questions were about Iran’s threats and opportunities. The candidates were asked to explain their plans to implement long-term agreements signed with China and Russia, while maintaining a balance with other countries of the world. They were also asked to elaborate on their plans to increase Iran’s international trade.

The candidates were also asked to explain how Iran plans to support its proxy militia or what the Islamic Republic calls ‘the resistance front.’

Netanyahu said on Monday that Tehran is actively working on multiple fronts to destroy Israel, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Iranian proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

“At any cost and in any way, we will thwart Iran's intentions to destroy us,” the Israeli prime minister told the Knesset.

He described the situation as an "existential war on seven fronts," asserting that Iran is openly attempting to annihilate Israel.

Iran has long been a key supporter of both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, providing financial aid, weapons, and training to these groups.

Since October 7, Israel has been engaged on two primary fronts: Gaza and Lebanon. Following a series of escalations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their operations against Hamas in Gaza, aiming to dismantle its infrastructure and halt rocket attacks on Israeli territory. Concurrently, tensions with Hezbollah have flared along Israel's northern border with Lebanon.

In his Monday speech, Netanyahu said as the IDF advances deeper into Gaza, more evidence of Iran's anti-Israel activities has come to light.

He argued that Iran has underestimated both Israeli resilience and the country's determination to protect itself, stating that Israel is prepared to impose a significant toll on its aggressors.

His remarks come one day after the top US general warned that any Israeli offensive in Lebanon would risk a broader conflict that draws in Iran and its proxies, particularly if Hezbollah's existence is threatened.

"From our perspective, based on where our forces are, the short range between Lebanon and Israel, it's harder for us to be able to support them in the same way we did back in April," Brown said.

He was referring to a massive Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel from Iranian territory on April 13 that failed to inflict any serious damage as Israeli and allied forces downed almost all projectiles.

In their fourth debate, the candidates for Iran’s presidency will discuss issues related to foreign policy.

The candidates had been informed about the subjects so that they could be prepared for the debates in advance. Unlike the previous rounds, the candidates have five-minute segments to speak. The first chunk is to express their ideas about questions posed by a panel of officials and experts. The second four-minute is for dialogue among each other.

The Islamic Republic has had tumultuous relations with the West and its regional neighbors since its inception 45 years ago, largely driven by its Islamic-Shia ideology of upsetting the geopolitical status quo.

The clerical regime's relentless adversarial stance toward Israel, the United States, and their allies has significantly shaped the contemporary history of the Levant and West Asia.

Over the past 20 years, the revelation of Iran's pursuit of a nuclear program with uranium enrichment has further heightened tensions in its foreign relations. Additionally, it has invested enormous resources and energy in building a military and ideological network of militant proxies throughout the Middle East.