Iran News Round Up

• Leading conservative candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi received little attention from conservative media in the first round of debates after being outperformed by Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Raisi’s supporters highlighted his inaction in joining the arguments between conservative candidate Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf against President Hassan Rouhani and his First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri. Meanwhile, Jahangiri and Qalibaf were well received according to post-debate polls. (Press TV) (E) (Mashregh News Agency) (Tasnim News Agency)

• After the debates, the conservative coalition of the Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces held a central council meeting to discuss “the general competitive situation” and to “determine the final candidate” of the Popular Front. Currently, the two candidates endorsed by the Popular Front are Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi. (Tasnim News Agency)

President Hassan Rouhani reportedly filed a complaint in response to “not being given enough time” to respond to three different accusations leveled against Rouhani by Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf himself submitted a complaint stating that Rouhani was given “two more minutes” to speak compared to the other candidates. Cleric Ebrahim Raisi also filed a complaint over the “procedure” of the first debate - no specific details were given. (Press TV) (E) (ISNA)

Presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi outlined his plan to boost employment during an interview with Iranian state television. Raisi said that smuggled goods decrease domestic production and thus are a main cause for unemployment. Reacting to Rouhani’s economic stance, Raisi said that Iran did not need to “wait for foreign investment to resolve issues.” He promised that his administration would create 1 million jobs a year by supporting the agricultural, industrial, and mining industries in addition to implementing an overhaul of the banking system. (Fars News Agency)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “through cooperation with each other, regional countries can fulfill their interests and defend themselves against threats.” Zarif added that Gulf countries can set aside their difference and turn the waterway into a “sea of friendship,” amidst “interference by big powers.” (Press TV)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi said that Iran has “maintained the principle of no negotiations with America beyond the sphere of the JCPOA” after the JCPOA Joint Commission met in Vienna on April 25. Ghassemi also stated that the U.S. confirmed that Iran was abiding the nuclear deal’s requirements. (Fars News Agency)

Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan said a recent Israeli attack on an area near the international airport in Damascus “helps the terrorists.” He claimed that the strike was meant to undermine the Syrian government’s gains against opposition groups and “ensure the terrorist’s survival.” Additionally, Dehgan said that “improving relations with America was not possible” and such a matter “could not be discussed” due to U.S. “intervention abroad.” (Press TV) (E) (Fars News Agency)

Basij head IRGC Brigadier General Gholam Hossein Gheibparvar said that cyberspace brings the war to “preserve the Islamic Revolution” into the “rooms of our children.” Gheibparvar emphasized the need to be vigilant in order to win the “culture war” and warned against “wishful thinking” towards the country’s ability to deal with “cultural threats.” (Fars News Agency)