Iranian presidential candidates debate on live TV: Internet bans, headscarves, and laws...

The debate, which featured the 6 candidates running for the presidential election to be held in the country on June 28, was broadcast live on state television.

The only reformist candidate in the election, Masoud Pezeshkian, stated during the nearly 4-hour debate that while internet bans might be necessary during times of crisis, they harm the public under normal conditions, saying, "If I become president, I will lift many of the bans and restrictions on the internet."

Regarding the country's mandatory headscarf policy, Pezeshkian used the expression, "Just as they could not take the headscarf away from our women before, we cannot force women to wear headscarves now."

POURMOHAMMADI: "THE VPN MAFIA EMERGED DUE TO INTERNET BANS"

The only cleric among the candidates, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, stated that internet bans have gone beyond their purpose, assessing that, "Filtering was correct at one point, but its continuation has become a cause for concern."

Pointing to the VPN services that citizens purchase to bypass the bans, Pourmohammadi said, "The existence of the VPN mafia that emerged with these bans is emptying people's pockets and endangering security."

Pourmohammadi stated that the mandatory headscarf is a "provision of law" but that it cannot be enforced by force, and that if he becomes president, he will withdraw the currently debated law that envisions imposing various sanctions on women who do not comply with the rule.

GHALIBAF: AGAINST INTERNET BANS

Conservative candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said he is against internet bans, except in special circumstances such as unrest and protests in the country.

Pointing out that the rate of those using VPNs due to the bans has risen to 67 percent, Ghalibaf said, "Instead of eliminating the risk, we increased it, and we suffered both economic and material damage as well as moral damage."

Regarding the mandatory headscarf law, Ghalibaf stated that this cannot be solved "without respect, and with tension and violence."

Ghalibaf noted that "painful incidents have also occurred" during police interventions against women, and that "these must be stopped."

JALILI POINTS TO DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS

Conservative candidate Saeed Jalili also pointed to domestic platforms developed to replace foreign applications without addressing internet bans.

Jalili expressed that foreign platforms could pose a security threat.

On the subject of the headscarf, Jalili said, "The headscarf is the attire of women's social presence and plays an important role in the protection and advancement of their privacy."

ZAKANI TO PEZESHKIAN: "I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BECOME PRESIDENT"

Alireza Zakani, who is predicted to withdraw in favor of the other two conservative candidates, Ghalibaf or Jalili, claimed that the election headquarters of Pezeshkian and Pourmohammadi are working together. Upon this, Pezeshkian asked, "Will you definitely stay (as a candidate) until the end?"

Zakani replied, "I will definitely stay, and I will not allow you to become president." In response, Pezeshkian said, "This is a race, and the people will make the decision. No one can stop anyone else."