Ahmadinejad's Request for a Gathering to Protest Economic Conditions and 'British Interference'

The former President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has requested the Minister of Interior to issue a permit for a gathering to protest issues such as the economic situation and 'British interference in Iran's internal affairs.' Ahmadinejad stated that this gathering is scheduled for October 21. In a letter published on Sunday, October 7, on Telegram channels close to him, he mentioned 'protesting the dire economic conditions,' 'mismanagement, clear weaknesses in governance, and repeated mistakes in major decisions, especially in the economic sector,' and 'protesting against the actions and threats of the U.S. government and unjust sanctions' as the topics of this gathering. Ahmadinejad and his associates had previously submitted several requests to the Ministry of Interior to hold a gathering, but the ministry had rejected these requests. The letter also stated that 'both overt and covert British interference in Iran's internal affairs and raising awareness about their historical deceit and injustices against the Iranian nation' is another goal of the gathering. Ahmadinejad and his associates had previously cited 'British interference' as the reason for the prison sentences issued against Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Hamid Baghaei, and other close associates. Meanwhile, Mashaei was arrested on March 14, 2018, after burning Baghaei's sentence in front of the British Embassy in Tehran and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, five of which are enforceable. Ahmadinejad, while strongly criticizing this ruling, stated that if Mashaei had not burned the sentence, 'I would have gone and burned it.' Ahmadinejad has also had a legal case opened against him for several years, but his court has not yet been held. Meanwhile, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson and first deputy of the judiciary, stated on Sunday regarding Ahmadinejad's situation: 'I admit that the judiciary is currently being lenient with some individuals, but rest assured that anyone who commits a crime will face decisive action; it may be delayed, but it will not be forgotten.' The Supreme Leader and the institutions under his supervision had always supported Ahmadinejad and his government until the issue of the dismissal of Heydar Moslehi, the Minister of Intelligence, but after the dismissal of the Minister and the incident known as Ahmadinejad's '11-day house arrest,' some close associates of Ayatollah Khamenei attacked him.