Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was born on October 28, 1956.

In 1975, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was admitted to the University of Science and Technology in the field of civil engineering after ranking 132nd in the nationwide university entrance exams.

In 1976, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started his undergraduate studies in civil engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology.

During the 1979 Islamic Revolution, some of the 52 American hostages claimed that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was one of their captors. However, former hostage takers have denied his involvement.

During the Iran-Iraq war in 1980, Ahmadinejad joined the voluntary forces of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps and served in different units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Engineering Corps.

In 1986, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch of Iran's military known for its role in safeguarding the Islamic Republic.

In 1997, while serving as the Mayor of Ardabil Province, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad completed his Ph.D. in transportation engineering and planning from Iran University of Science and Technology.

On May 3, 2003, the City Council of Tehran elected the Mayor with a significant majority vote.

On June 24, 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won Iran’s presidential election by defeating Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani with approximately 62% of the vote. He quickly expressed his intention to resume Iran’s nuclear program.

On August 3, 2005, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei authorized Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency after winning 62% of the vote in the run-off poll against Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Ahmadinejad showed his loyalty by kissing Khamenei's hand during the ceremony.

On August 24, 2005, the Majlis approved Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet appointments after rejecting his initial candidates for the oil portfolio. The approved ministers promised to hold frequent meetings outside Tehran.

During a speech at the World Without Zionism conference in Tehran, he states that 'Israel must be wiped off the map.'

On December 14, 2005, Ahmadinejad made a controversial statement in Zahedan, Iran, where he denied the Holocaust and criticized Europeans for elevating it above religious beliefs.

In April 2006, Ahmadinejad announced that Iran had successfully refined uranium for the nuclear fuel cycle, declaring Iran as a nuclear state. He assured that Iran's nuclear technology is peaceful and poses no threat to any party.

In 2006, the Ahmadinejad government reportedly enforced a policy forcing numerous Iranian scientists and university professors to resign or retire, known as the 'second cultural revolution', aiming to replace older professors with younger ones.

On September 24, 2007, Ahmadinejad speaks at Columbia University where he denies ever denying the Holocaust, instead claiming to have introduced 'two questions' about it. He faces backlash and is booed after stating that Iran does not have homosexuals like in the United States.

On September 25, 2007, Ahmadinejad delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly.

On September 26, 2007, Ahmadinejad was interviewed by Christiane Amanpour. He abruptly left the interview after only a short period.

On March 2, 2008, the Iranian president made history by becoming the first Iranian president to visit Iraq. During the visit, he held discussions with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani on various topics including oil production, development, border demarcations, and Israel's actions in Gaza.

The 2009 Iranian Presidential Election was marked by controversy as incumbent President Ahmadinejad was declared the winner amidst allegations of electoral fraud. This led to widespread protests and unrest in Iran.

On June 13, 2009, the individual was reelected as the president of Iran.

Seven individuals are reported killed during a march by supporters of Mirhossein Mousavi in Tehran, Iran. The protests escalate in various cities.

State television in Iran announces that 450 people have been detained during clashes in Tehran, resulting in 10 fatalities. The death of Neda Agha-Soltan gains global attention.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei officially supported Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the President of Iran on August 3, 2009, following the disputed election results. This endorsement marked a significant moment in Iranian politics.

On August 5, 2009, the individual was sworn in as the president of Iran.

In October 2009, Ahmadinejad expressed willingness to cooperate with the U.N.-drafted deal regarding Iran's nuclear program. He stated Iran's readiness for fuel exchange and nuclear cooperation, while asserting Iran's right to a sovereign nuclear program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report indicates for the first time that Iran is actively seeking nuclear weapons capability, raising international concerns.

The U.S. Congress passes stringent unilateral sanctions targeting Iran's energy and banking sectors, intensifying pressure on the country amidst nuclear concerns.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad survives an assassination attempt with a homemade explosive device on his motorcade during a visit to Hamadan, Iran, underscoring the volatile political climate.

On April 17, 2011, Iranian President Ahmadinejad fired Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi, but the decision was overruled by Supreme Leader Khamenei.

On March 14, 2012, Ahmadinejad was summoned before the Iranian parliament to address inquiries regarding domestic and foreign matters. This marked the first instance since the 1979 Iranian Revolution where the president was called upon by the parliament for questioning.

On September 24, 2012, Ahmadinejad gave a speech at the United Nations where the ambassador from Israel walked out.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waved during a press conference in Tehran.

On February 5, 2013, during a visit to Egypt, Ahmadinejad faced an insult when a group of men threw shoes at him, which is considered disrespectful in the Muslim world.

After leaving office in August 2013, Ahmadinejad initially mentioned retiring from politics and returning to the university. However, he later expressed intentions of staying involved in politics by potentially creating a new party or organization. He also received permission to launch a university for post-graduate studies in Tehran.

On April 12, 2017, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced his intention to run for a third term in the 2017 presidential election, despite objections from Supreme Leader Khamenei. However, his nomination was rejected by the Guardian Council.

On April 20, 2017, The Guardian Council, a government forum responsible for approving candidates, disqualifies Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running in the upcoming presidential election.

In 2021, Ahmadinejad faced another disqualification from Iran's presidential election by the Council of Guardians. This repeated rejection hindered his attempt to participate in the election.

On March 2, 2022, Ahmadinejad publicly expressed his support for Ukraine and President Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion. He praised the Ukrainian resistance and warned Putin of the consequences if the invasion continued, contrary to Iran's official pro-Russian stance.

On August 19, 2023, Ahmadinejad was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under Executive Order 14078 for his involvement in detaining U.S. citizens. The Treasury Department cited his support to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security and his role in detaining American citizens.

A quick overview of key information about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former President of Iran. It includes important facts and highlights of his political career.