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All six approved candidates in Iran's presidential election onstage in Tehran on May 5 for the second of the three live debates. The election is set for May 19.
All six approved candidates in Iran's presidential election onstage in Tehran on May 5 for the second of the three live debates. The election is set for May 19.

Live Blog: Iran's Final Presidential Debate

* The six candidates approved for Iran's strictly vetted presidential ballot are appearing for the last of three live televised debates before the May 19 election. The topic is economics.

* Iranian President Hassan Rohani is seeking a second four-year term. His main challenges from the conservative side are expected to come from cleric Ebrahim Raisi and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. (Read profiles of the candidates.)

* The official campaign period ends on May 17, two days before voting in the first round of a possible two-round election. If no candidate gets more than half of the vote, the second round would be held on May 26.

* Official media put the number of eligible voters at around 55 million.

* In the first debate, the candidates clashed over Rohani's record on job creation. In the second debate, Rohani's conservative rivals accused him of having failed to "cash the check" from the 2015 deal curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions relief.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Tehran (GMT +4 1/2)

12:40 12.5.2017

Jahangiri is on fire.

12:45 12.5.2017

Rohani says his government is honored to have opened Iran's export market with the 2015 nuclear deal.

12:52 12.5.2017

Rohani says his government managed to get back Iran's oil market share from OPEC, from Saudi Arabia.

12:55 12.5.2017

Qalibaf accuses Jahangiri of lying.

12:56 12.5.2017

Good point by Crisis Group Iran analyst Ali Vaez:

12:58 12.5.2017

Qalibaf again accuses the government of supporting rich Iranians at the expense of the poor.

13:06 12.5.2017

Rohani says Iran's banks should be strengthened. He says Iran should rely on national and foreign investment. He says his government has reached an agreement with a foreign bank for for $10 billion investment.

13:07 12.5.2017

Unlike Jahangiri, Rohani is very calm.

13:11 12.5.2017

Raisi raises his voice, attacks Rohani, saying why he doesn't he do the things he's been promising now. Why don't you work in the 100 remaining days, Raisi tells Rohani.

13:12 12.5.2017

Raisi also repeats his call for a debate between Rohani and former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, saying that the Iranian president blames all the problems on the previous government.

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