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| Iran election: Ahmadinejad registers despite Khamenei warning | Iran election: Ahmadinejad registers despite Khamenei warning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered as a candidate in Iran's presidential election, despite being told not to by the Supreme Leader. | Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered as a candidate in Iran's presidential election, despite being told not to by the Supreme Leader. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad, a hardliner who served two terms between 2005 and 2013, filed paperwork for the 19 May poll at the interior ministry in Tehran. | Mr Ahmadinejad, a hardliner who served two terms between 2005 and 2013, filed paperwork for the 19 May poll at the interior ministry in Tehran. |
| Last year, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned him that such a move was "not in his interest and that of the country". | Last year, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned him that such a move was "not in his interest and that of the country". |
| But Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters on Tuesday that had been "just advice". | But Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters on Tuesday that had been "just advice". |
| Associated Press journalists who witnessed Mr Ahmadinejad register on Tuesday said election officials were "stunned" when he submitted the paperwork. | Associated Press journalists who witnessed Mr Ahmadinejad register on Tuesday said election officials were "stunned" when he submitted the paperwork. |
| President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who negotiated a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, is yet to register but is widely expected to seek a second term. | |
| More than 120 people, including six women, submitted their names on the first day of registration on Monday, according to local media. | More than 120 people, including six women, submitted their names on the first day of registration on Monday, according to local media. |
| Once the process ends on Saturday, the prospective candidates will be screened for their political and Islamic qualifications by the Guardian Council. | Once the process ends on Saturday, the prospective candidates will be screened for their political and Islamic qualifications by the Guardian Council. |
| The clerical body will announce a final list of vetted candidates on 27 April. | The clerical body will announce a final list of vetted candidates on 27 April. |
| Speaking after submitting his paperwork Mr Ahmadinejad said he was "committed to my moral promise" of not running and was only helping his close confident and former Vice-President, Hamid Baqai, who registered alongside him. | Speaking after submitting his paperwork Mr Ahmadinejad said he was "committed to my moral promise" of not running and was only helping his close confident and former Vice-President, Hamid Baqai, who registered alongside him. |
| "I registered merely to support Baqai and I will act according to the [supreme] leader's advice," he said. "I'll be serving Mr Baqai with all my power." | "I registered merely to support Baqai and I will act according to the [supreme] leader's advice," he said. "I'll be serving Mr Baqai with all my power." |
| He added: "Some people say that the [supreme leader's] advice was meant to completely forbid [me from running], but what the leader said was just advice." | He added: "Some people say that the [supreme leader's] advice was meant to completely forbid [me from running], but what the leader said was just advice." |
| Ayatollah Khamenei said he had told him not to stand because it would "create bipolar opposites and divisions in the country which I believe is harmful". | Ayatollah Khamenei said he had told him not to stand because it would "create bipolar opposites and divisions in the country which I believe is harmful". |
| The disputed re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad in 2009 triggered the biggest protests in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. | The disputed re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad in 2009 triggered the biggest protests in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. |
| Millions of people demanded a re-run, but the supreme leader insisted the result was valid and ordered a major crackdown on dissent that saw dozens of opposition supporters killed and thousands detained. |