Introduction

Summary

During the second televised debate of Iran’s 2017 presidential election, moderator Morteza Heidari asked the candidates: ‘What are your main foreign policy priorities, especially for supporting the Resistance Front?’ (aka the anti-Israel front consisting of Iran and its regional allies and militias). The candidates evaded the question and proceeded to address general issues related to diplomacy and foreign policy. Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri used the opportunity to elaborate his views on public diplomacy. He proposed two ways to repair Iran’s international standing, which included expanding the freedoms of Iranian artists and improving Iran’s inbound tourism industry. Hardliner candidate Ebrahim Raisi highlighted the importance of increasing exports and improving relations with Iran’s neighbouring countries. A veteran of the Iran–Iraq war and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Air Force Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf spoke of negotiation diplomacy, public diplomacy and economic diplomacy and criticised the Rouhani administration for failing to take advantage of its neighbouring market, comprising 400 million people.