Khamenei to Ahmadinejad: Running for Iran President a Bad Idea
- Ends speculation that former leader will run again next year
- Incumbent Rouhani expected to contest second term in May
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to seek a return to the post in next year’s election, saying his participation would “polarize” the country.
“I didn’t tell him don’t run, I said it’s not in your own or the country’s best interests to run,” Khamenei said, according to an audio file of his speech on the website of the semi-official Fars news agency.