43 Members of the Ninth and Tenth Governments Criticize Ahmadinejad's Recent Actions

43 former ministers and senior officials from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ninth and tenth governments have issued a statement accusing him of facilitating the activities of "elements of sedition and foreign enemies to undermine the system." According to Fars News, the statement, while not naming Ahmadinejad, asserts that the former president's "certain positions and subversive behaviors" overshadow the extensive services of the managers and specialists loyal to the government. Ahmadinejad registered to participate in the 2017 presidential election but was disqualified by the Guardian Council. Over the past year, following the arrest and trial of Hamid Baqai and other officials from his administrations, he has severely criticized the judiciary, even calling for the dismissal of its head in a letter to the Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, former officials emphasized in their statement that "these unconventional letter writings, the proposal of illegal demands such as early presidential and parliamentary elections, the undermining of the institutions and pillars of the Islamic system under the pretext of criticism and reform, and the prioritization of personal and group issues over national interests, have caused unrest in society and harm to the country and its people." Signatories of the statement include Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Mehrdad Bazrpash, Rostam Qasemi, Sadegh Mahsouli, Ahmad Vahidi, and Parviz Davoudi. In recent weeks, Ahmadinejad's tone in criticizing the regime has intensified. His office has accused judiciary officials of intending to "endanger the lives" of Hamid Baqai and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei by violating all legal and even humanitarian standards. Following the arrests of Baqai and Mashaei, websites close to Ahmadinejad published his previous letters to the Supreme Leader, in which he severely criticized the country's situation and called for structural reforms in several institutions, including the Guardian Council and the judiciary, the resolution of parallel institutions, the establishment of a constitutional court, and the withdrawal of armed forces from political and economic affairs.