Iranian presidential candidates discuss Türkiye’s development

On May 19, Iran went to early presidential elections due to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Iranian candidates Alereza Zakani and Masoud Pezeshkian confronted each other over Türkiye’s economic situation.

Zakani, who is the mayor of Tehran, said that Pezeshkian was using Türkiye as an example for the development of Iran because he is from Tabriz and is Turkish, but that this was a wrong approach. Zakani said, “Pezeshkian shows us Türkiye as an example. But I think he should do some more research. The people in Türkiye are in a pagan state.”

Pezeshkian responded to Zakani’s criticism with the following words:

Please take a trip to Türkiye and see with your own eyes how much Türkiye has developed. Before the Islamic Revolution, they envied us, but now look how many streets and bridges they have built.

Masoud Pezeshkian