RFERL:

Among the cacophony of voices calling for change in Iran, one stands out for being wholly unexpected—that of hardline former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Once Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s favorite, Ahmadinejad has become outspoken in his criticism of the regime, especially its oppression of freedom, and his supporters have grown in number and evolved from a motley mix of conservatives who disagree with Khamenei to a serious political force.

Ahmadinejad began clashing with the Supreme Leader during his second term in office from 2009-2013. Khamenei rejected Ahmadinejad’s appointment of his close relative and populist figure Esfandiar Rahim Mashai as his vice-president.

In May 2011, Ahmadinejad fired his Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi, but again Khamenei over ruled his decision. Moslehi was re-instated and Ahmadinejad refused to go to work for eleven days, to no avail.

In February 2012, Ahmadinejad hijacked a session of Iranian parliament on live TV by screening a video showing parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Chief Justice Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli, and Larijani’s brother Fazel demanding a bribe from two other officials, bringing disgrace to regime insiders.

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