The debates are key to building public interest in the vote. They’re held on Fridays -- the weekend in Iran --so that people have time to watch them. The first live televised debates were held in 2009, generating great interest among Iranians.
Here's a quick glimpse at the six candidates in today's debate. They are the last candidates standing after the Guardians Council reviewed around 1,600 applications -- reportedly including just a couple dozen serious aspirants -- for the ballot.
Profiles: Six Still Standing In Race For Iran's Presidency
All six candidates are sitting in a back room awaiting the start of the debate. Nervous?!