Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The Era of Public Asset Misappropriation Will End

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, said in a speech in Tehran on Wednesday, October 1, that "the era of public asset misappropriation will come to an end, and we will all celebrate the fall of oppression and the establishment of the Mahdavi government." According to ISNA news agency, he emphasized that "the nature and essence of the Iranian nation has the ability to manage and govern globally and to hold influential positions in the world." Ahmadinejad added: "The effort of all and the ultimate aspiration of all the free people of the world is the establishment of the Mahdavi system, and... undoubtedly, this will be realized much sooner than the oppressors think, and the foundations of oppression will fall." Additionally, according to the Young Journalists Club, affiliated with the Islamic Republic Radio and Television, he concluded his remarks with a prayer, saying: "God willing, oppression, cowardice, and public asset misappropriation will be eradicated." Ahmadinejad's remarks come at a time when Mohammad Reza Rahimi, his first vice president during his presidency, has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined for charges such as "receiving bribes" and involvement in the Iran Insurance embezzlement case. Hamid Bakhaei, Ahmadinejad's executive assistant, was also arrested in June this year on charges of "embezzlement," and several other officials from the previous government are under similar accusations. Two of Ahmadinejad's supporters held placards reading: "Doctor, you are alone." Among them, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice in Hassan Rouhani's government and former head of the Inspection Organization, spoke in August about the "significant role" of Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff, in a 3,000 billion tomans embezzlement case. Abdolreza Davari, one of Mashaei's close associates, announced that he intends to sue Pourmohammadi. Meanwhile, in recent weeks, Iranian media have published a plethora of news related to Ahmadinejad's lawsuit against Eshaq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Hassan Rouhani's government. The office of the first vice president of Iran welcomed this "lawsuit" and announced that Jahangiri would submit "documents of Ahmadinejad's violations and mismanagement" to the judicial authority. Ahmadinejad has been accused by opponents and officials of Hassan Rouhani's government of squandering Iran's oil revenues, pursuing an ambitious nuclear program that led to multiple UN sanctions and economic penalties from the US and Europe, intensifying internal repression, and widespread corruption. However, in recent months, reports have emerged regarding the possibility of his candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections and the participation of his supporters in the tenth parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, the Young Journalists Club reported that the slogans at Ahmadinejad's speech "smelled of parliamentary elections or perhaps the 96 presidential elections" and indicated the "determination of Ahmadinejad's supporters" for his return to Iranian politics. According to this report, slogans such as "For the sake of the dead, Ahmadinejad will return" and "Ahmadinejad, come; Ahmadinejad, come" were chanted at the event. Ahmadinejad also stated: "The satanic system of arrogance seeks complete dominance and to open not just a window, but a gate for complete influence and impact on the policies of nations, especially the Iranian nation." According to the website 'Dolat Bahar', he added: "Hope and belief in the inevitability of the ultimate and complete governance of divine and human values under the rule of the perfect human, Imam Mahdi, is both motivation and goal and path." Ahmadinejad's statements about the involvement of the Twelfth Imam in some political events of his government, including the famous "Halo of Light" incident, have repeatedly made headlines. During his presidency, he emphasized that "the guiding hand of the Imam of the Time is evident in all matters of the country." These statements have repeatedly drawn criticism from some clerics and political figures. In this regard, Rafsanjani: Those who elevated Ahmadinejad to the level of sanctity should answer. Jahangiri's defense against Ahmadinejad is "ready". Kamran Daneshjoo, "distributed 1430 gold coins in the style of the Qajar era". Khamenei: In 88, we stood against the annulment of the elections. Imports during Ahmadinejad's government: 202 tons of leggings, 6 tons of donkeys. A member of parliament: Illegal allocation of a $700 million project during the tenth government. Nahavandian: Imposing an additional $100 billion cost as a result of sanctions. Jahangiri: Babak Zanjani is being arrogant and not returning the money.