Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Name	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Caption	Ahmadinejad speaking at Columbia University in 2007
Office	6th President of Iran
Term start	3 August 2005
Term end	3 August 2013
Predecessor	Mohammad Khatami
Successor	Hassan Rouhani
Birth date	28 October 1956
Birth place	Aradan, Imperial State of Iran
Party	Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran
Otherparty	Islamic Society of Engineers, Office for Strengthening Unity
Alma mater	Iran University of Science and Technology
Religion	Twelver Shia Islam

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad served as the sixth President of Iran from 2005 to 2013. A member of the Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran, his tenure was defined by a populist economic platform, a confrontational foreign policy stance, and controversial statements on historical and international issues. His presidency coincided with increased tensions with the United States and European Union over Iran's nuclear program.

Early life and education

He was born in the village of Aradan near Garmsar and moved to Tehran as a child. During the Iranian Revolution, he was involved with the Office for Strengthening Unity, a student organization aligned with the revolutionary leadership. He earned a doctorate in traffic engineering and transportation planning from the Iran University of Science and Technology, later becoming a professor there. His early career included roles in provincial governance, serving as governor of both Maku and Khoy counties in West Azerbaijan province.

Political career

His political rise accelerated with his appointment as mayor of Tehran in 2003 by the Tehran City Council, then dominated by conservatives. As mayor, he reversed many cultural and infrastructural policies of his moderate predecessors, focusing on religious and populist projects. This platform helped him secure the conservative vote in the 2005 Iranian presidential election, where he defeated former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a runoff. His campaign was strongly supported by the Basij militia and segments of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Presidency

His domestic policies emphasized redistributive economics, including direct subsidies and increased provincial development funds, though they contributed to high inflation and economic strain. Internationally, his administration aggressively advanced Iran's nuclear program, leading to multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and sanctions. He frequently made headlines for speeches at the United Nations General Assembly and for hosting conferences such as the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust. Key figures in his government included Manouchehr Mottaki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei as a close advisor.

Controversies and international relations

His presidency was marked by profound diplomatic friction, notably with the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. His statements on Israel, including a reference to it as a "tumour," and his questioning of the Holocaust drew widespread condemnation from Germany, France, and other Western nations. The Green Movement protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election resulted in a severe government crackdown. Relations with regional rivals like Saudi Arabia were also strained, while he maintained alliances with Hamas in Gaza and the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.

Post-presidency and later activities

After leaving office, he returned to teaching at his alma mater but remained a public figure. His political influence waned due to increasing friction with the country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and the powerful Guardian Council. He was briefly arrested in 2017 for inciting unrest and was barred from running in the 2021 Iranian presidential election by the council. He has since been critical of the government's economic management while maintaining a populist rhetoric through his personal website and occasional public speeches. Category:Presidents of Iran Category:1956 births Category:Living people