Ahmadinejad launches website and Instagram account in hopeful political comeback
The former Iranian president is making an intense media push as he returns to the public eye.
By HAGAI LAPIranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) sits above former president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad(photo credit: IRANIAN MEDIA)
After being out of the public eye for over a year, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a new public campaign last week, which included the launch of his official website and Instagram account, all indications that he is planning to make a comeback.His recent media push also included a series of interviews with Iranian TV stations, public appearances, lectures and social events — something he had strictly avoided in the past.The most interesting part of the website is a statement indicating his future return to politics, supposedly written by outside "specialists." Ahmadinejad still argues that the years of his presidency were "the cleanest and purest years Iran ever had and improved living conditions for many Iranians," though most consider the years of his administration the country's worst years since the Islamic revolution, saying he lead the country into a financial dead end.The former president's website also promotes his recently-released biography, lists his accomplishments during the two terms he served as president between 2005 and 2013, as well as his reflections and ideas.Ahmadinejad recently came under fire for allegations that he was tied to the case of Mohammad Reza Rahimi, the former vice president sentenced to jail during his second term in office in connection with a billion-dollar money laundering and embezzlement scheme. Ahmadinejad denied his links to this case and upheld that the motives behind the accusations "are clear to all."
