Hard-line former president of Iran won't seek re-election

Iran's hard-line former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said today he won't run in next year's presidential election, ending weeks of speculation after the country's supreme leader discouraged his candidacy.

Ahmadinejad's candidacy could have posed a strong hard-line challenge to President Hassan Rouhani, who many believe will seek a second term after his administration struck the landmark nuclear accord with world powers.

It also could have exposed the still-lingering wounds in Iran from the widespread unrest that followed his contested 2009 re-election.

"By the grace of God, I am proud to continue as a small soldier for the revolution," Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
 

Ahmadinejad, known for repeatedly questioning the scale of the Holocaust, prognosticating Israel's demise and expanding Iran's contested nuclear program, had been touring the country, fueling rumors of his potential candidacy.

He also wrote and publicly released a letter to President Barack Obama in August asking him to "quickly fix" a US Supreme Court ruling that allows families of people killed in attacks linked to Iran to collect damages from the country's frozen assets.

Ahmadinejad previously served two four-year terms from 2005 to 2013. Under Iranian law, he became eligible to run again after four years.

However, Ahmadinejad as a candidate recalls some memories Iran may want to forget.

Two of his former vice presidents have been jailed for corruption since he left office. Iran's economy suffered under heavy international sanctions during his administration, which were sparked by Western fears that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program would be used to build atomic bombs. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes.

Internally, many associate Ahmadinejad with the aftermath of Iran's 2009 presidential election. He ended up winning in a contested vote count that sparked massive protests and a security force crackdown that saw thousands detained, dozens killed and others tortured.