Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei advised the former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stay out of next year’s presidential elections, saying his participation would “polarize” the country.
“I didn’t tell him don’t run, I said it’s not in your own or the country’s best interests to run,” Bloomberg cited Khamenei as saying.
The statement confirms months of media speculation that Ahmadinejad wanted to run but might not win official backing. Incumbent Hassan Rouhani is expected to contest a second term.
The vote is likely to take place on May 29, 2017.
