Mohsen Kouhkan, a prominent Principalist parliamentarian, likened the electoral victories of Rouhani, Ahmadinejad and Khatami to an unwanted pregnancy, using the analogy to mean that all three Presidents approach the elections only to win and had no plans for how to run their administrations.
Rafiqdoust: Ahmadinejad is a Political Outcaste
Prominent IRGC officer and economic liberal politician Mohsen Rafiqdoust stated that Ahmadinejad will not be allowed to run in this year’s election as he is a “political outcaste”. Rafiqdoust also expressed hope that Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf will not nominate as he is doing a good job as Parliamentary Speaker.
Ahmadinejad: Mousavi and Karroubi should be released
In a far ranging and combatative interview, Ahmadinejad stated that he was against the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi, both of whom have been held since disputing Ahmadinejad’s victory in 2009. Ahmadinejad refused to comment on whether he would run this year.
Ahmadinejad says Saudi Arabia and Bahrain should be included in Nuclear Talks
In a controversial interview with Sputnik, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a potential contender in this year’s election, stated that it would be “logical” to include Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in negotiations to restart the JCPOA nuclear deal. His statement contradicts the Foreign Ministry’s rejection of Saudi involvement in negotiations, and comes one day after the Supreme Leader stated that the next president should revive the nuclear deal.