Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run in the presidential race next month, defying an edict from the country’s supreme leader not to do so. It also makes Ahmadinejad the most high-profile Iranian politician to defy the wishes of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters. Last year, Khamenei took the unusual decision to reveal he had told Ahmadinejad he did not recommend he enter the contest. Iran’s economy suffered under heavy international sanctions during his administration because of western suspicions that Tehran was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. On Sunday, Ebrahim Raisi, a conservative cleric close to Khamenei, announced he would put his name on the list.

Source: The Guardian April 12, 2017 10:51 UTC