Al-Monitor | Matt Dabrowski: According to a�recent survey�released by the polling firm IranPoll, incumbent Hassan Rouhani remains popular just as Iran�s presidential campaign kicks into high gear. But Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Rouhani�s chief rival from the last presidential election in 2013, is also well regarded by voters. Does the poll, which was conducted April 11-14, set the stage for a rematch between the two men for the presidency?

According to the survey, 62% of Iranians have a favorable opinion of Rouhani; 35% have an unfavorable opinion. For Ghalibaf, who came in second to Rouhani in 2013, 67% of Iranians have a favorable opinion, while 25% have an unfavorable opinion.

The first round of the presidential elections will be held May 19.

The weakness in the broader Iranian economy has weighed heavily on Rouhani�s public image. The International Monetary Fund reported in February that the�Iranian economy grew an impressive 7%�over the past year, but that nearly all of this growth was attributed to increased oil exports.

The survey shows that 72% of Iranians believe the economic situation �has not improved� as a consequence of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Nearly half � 42% � say unemployment is the most important issue facing the country, with a further 13% specifically citing youth unemployment.
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