As Iran's presidential election approaches, the field of candidates has become narrower with the withdrawal of two prominent contenders, adding suspense to the already uncertain fate of the election. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and government official Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi have both announced their withdrawal, leaving a limited number of candidates in the race. This development points towards a potential run-off unless more candidates choose to withdraw amidst a prevailing sense of voter apathy.

The Iranian presidential election was scheduled a year earlier than expected due to the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, on May 19. Out of the initial 80 individuals who submitted their candidacies, only six were approved by the Guardian Council, the constitutional vetting body. The remaining candidates are Saeed Jalili, a senior member of the Supreme National Security Council; Ghalibaf, who has made numerous unsuccessful attempts at winning the presidency; and Masoud Pezeshkian, a former health minister and long-time lawmaker.

With no candidate having a clear majority, a run-off is scheduled for July 5, unless either Jalili or Ghalibaf withdraws in favor of the other. However, Iranian elections have been plagued by widespread voter apathy for several years, with an estimated half of the eligible voting population projected to abstain from voting.

Emphasizing the importance of voting, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the military, the IRGC, and the candidates themselves have all urged the public to participate in the election. Khamenei warned that not participating would only please Iran's "enemies."

The election has often been portrayed as a contest between reformist and establishment-oriented candidates. This year, the majority of the candidates are conservatives and hardliners, with only Pezeshkian representing the reformist faction. All candidates have pledged their allegiance to Khamenei and expressed their support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

During their campaigns, the candidates addressed various pressing issues facing Iran, including inflation, unemployment, corruption, and political infighting domestically. They also highlighted the challenges of navigating a complex international landscape as Iran faces sanctions and pressure from the United States and its allies. However, the candidates offered scarce details on their proposed solutions, often resorting to attacking their opponents or blaming previous administrations for the country's longstanding problems.

One issue that prompted nationwide protests in recent years was the arrest of women for not adhering to mandatory hijab rules. When asked about concrete measures to address this issue, candidate Jalili evaded the question, claiming that the interviewer did not understand the "strategic depth" of the matter. Jalili did, however, promise to reduce inflation to single digits and achieve a remarkable 8% annual GDP growth rate, tasks that are considered challenging, if not nearly impossible.

Candidate Ghalibaf made ambitious promises, including ensuring wage increases parallel to inflation rates, providing free land to young couples and those without homes, and lifting the ban on car imports. He also proposed building a border wall with Afghanistan and Pakistan to manage mass migration.

On the other hand, Pezeshkian focused on reformist priorities, advocating for the restoration of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, bridging the gap between the people and the establishment, improving the management of energy subsidies, and appointing officials based on expertise rather than political connections.

Friction arose between the candidates, with accusations that some registered merely to raise their public profiles or to cover for allied candidates. Former President Rouhani even criticized unnamed hardliners, implying Ghalibaf and Jalili, for undermining his administration and causing issues such as strained international banking relations and anti-money laundering regulations.

The narrowing field of candidates and the prevalent voter apathy pose significant challenges to the Iranian presidential election. The run-off scheduled for July 5 will likely determine the next president of Iran, as the remaining contenders continue their efforts to address the issues facing the nation.