Iranian Presidential Candidates Turn to Social Media Despite Government Ban

With voter turnout a critical issue, candidates use blocked platforms to engage the public ahead of Friday's election.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei calls for maximum voter turnout while warning reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian against pro-US policies.
Despite supporting internet censorship, candidates are using VPNs to access and campaign on banned social media platforms.
Public engagement remains low, with only 18.5% of respondents seriously following election news.
Candidates, including hardliners, criticize the morality police and advocate for internet freedom to appeal to younger voters.
The upcoming election follows the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and features a mix of hardline, centrist, and reformist candidates.