Ahmadinejad Considered His 'Active Foreign Policy' as the Starting Point for Negotiation with the U.S.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former President of Iran, on Thursday criticized Hassan Rouhani regarding the nuclear issue and deemed his 'active foreign policy' as the initiator of negotiations with the United States. Speaking in a hotel in Tabriz, Ahmadinejad, unlike the past year and without mentioning the Supreme Leader, directed all his criticisms towards the current president. His speech in Tabriz, despite threats from the Ansar Hezbollah group and prior announcements of its cancellation due to 'lack of necessary permits,' ultimately took place. He began by listing the 'achievements' of his two administrations and, focusing on the nuclear issue and the JCPOA, stated: 'As a result of active foreign policies and scientific and economic advancements, the U.S. government was compelled to propose negotiations and cooperation.' Ahmadinejad accused Rouhani of being responsible for all 'pretexts' for the issuance of resolutions and sanctions against Iran, saying: 'All the excuses of foreigners for issuing resolutions and sanctions date back to the time when Mr. Rouhani was in charge of the country's nuclear program. They have no excuses from the ninth and tenth administrations.' He further demanded that 'any potential agreement be put to a public vote' and emphasized that 'no one has the right to make decisions on behalf of the nation and for several generations.' He also criticized the acceptance of the Vienna nuclear agreement without holding a referendum on it. The acceptance of the Vienna nuclear agreement was approved by Iran's Supreme National Security Council and endorsed by the Supreme Leader. The Iranian parliament also passed a resolution related to this agreement. Ahmadinejad reiterated his opposition to direct negotiations with the U.S. during the final years of his presidency, stating: 'In a meeting with senior officials who were preparing for negotiations with the Americans, I said that the conditions for negotiation were not appropriate.' The former president insisted that he had requested a six-month delay in these negotiations so that his government could implement 'some economic plans against the sanctions.' Ahmadinejad did not specify the plans he claimed could be implemented against Western sanctions. He had also stated in May that he opposed direct negotiations between Iran and the U.S. in Oman, which occurred in the later years of his presidency with the Supreme Leader's permission. Previously, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization during Rouhani's government and foreign minister during Ahmadinejad's presidency, had reported that Iran and the U.S. had negotiated several times at the deputy foreign minister level in Oman during the final years of Ahmadinejad's presidency. According to Salehi, these negotiations were conducted with the Supreme Leader's permission, and Ayatollah Khamenei ordered that discussions be limited to the nuclear issue. In Ahmadinejad's recent speech, there was no sign of his usual critical tone towards the Supreme Leader. It seems that threats from Ansar Hezbollah and attempts to prevent his trip to Tabriz led to this change in approach.