Jahangiri's Defense Against Ahmadinejad is 'Ready'

The legal deputy of the Iranian president states that Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Hassan Rouhani and a critic of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's policies, has prepared his defense against the former president's complaint. Elham Aminzadeh, the legal deputy, told reporters on Sunday, September 8, that "Mr. Jahangiri has prepared his defense and will present it." Aminzadeh added that the file of "violations" that occurred in the past at the Iranian presidency is also being "completed." The legal deputy mentioned that apart from the complaint against Eshaq Jahangiri, no other complaints have been received by this section of the presidency. Earlier in early August, the lawyer of the former president announced that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had filed a complaint against Eshaq Jahangiri. Jahangiri is considered one of the staunchest critics of the previous Iranian government, particularly regarding economic and financial matters. Ahmadinejad's lawyer also noted that he has "made the most accusations against the ninth and tenth governments," which is why a complaint has been filed against him for "defamation and spreading falsehoods". At that time, the office of the first vice president welcomed this matter and stated that they would submit "evidence of Ahmadinejad's violations and mismanagement to the judicial authority." A few days later, on August 12, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, announced that Ahmadinejad's complaint had been registered and sent to the prosecutor's office. However, he stated that he is "currently unable to disclose details of the accusations." After the complaint was filed, Jahangiri continued to level new economic and financial accusations against the previous government, including on that Sunday, he reported a "large amount" withdrawn from the Central Bank during the previous administration that has not been repaid.