In a recent speech in Ahvaz he used the terms “despotic and sultan” for his addressees, and by comparing Khamenei to the Shah he went on to say, “The people staged a revolution to no longer see such people.”

After being banned by Khamenei from taking part in the presidential elections, Ahmadinejad placed his weight behind Hamid Baghaie. He has now relaunched his elections campaign in favor of Baghaie.

Hesamedin Ashena, an advisor to Rouhani, launched a poll in his Twitter page asking: “How do you view Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks in Ahvaz being against 1. Rouhani, 2. Khamenei, 3. The principalists.”