Ahmadinejad Abandons Presidential Hopes on Khamenei’s Advice

  • Former president ends speculation he’ll run again next year
  • Incumbent Rouhani expected to contest second term in May

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Source: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
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Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won’t try to get his old job back in next year’s election after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised him such a move would “polarize” the country.

In a letter addressed to Khamenei, Ahmadinejad pledged to take the advice Iran’s top authority gave him in an Aug. 30 meeting, according to a copy of the letter published by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.