Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad is off his medication again

Since he took office earlier this year, the militance of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has alienated many of his natural supporters in Iran. If you think his prior statements have made some question his sanity, however, wait until people read this Financial Times story by Gareth Smyth and Najmeh Bozorgmehr: A leading website in Iran ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

Since he took office earlier this year, the militance of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has alienated many of his natural supporters in Iran. If you think his prior statements have made some question his sanity, however, wait until people read this Financial Times story by Gareth Smyth and Najmeh Bozorgmehr: A leading website in Iran has published a transcript and video recording of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad claiming to have felt ?a light? while addressing world leaders at the United Nations in New York in September. Baztab.com ? a website linked to Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards ? said the recording was made in a meeting between the president and Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, one of Iran?s leading Shia Muslim clerics. According to the transcript, Mr Ahmadi-Nejad said someone present at the UN, possibly from his entourage, subsequently told him: ?When you began with the words ?In the name of God?? I saw a light coming, surrounding you and protecting you to the end [of the speech].? Mr Ahmadi-Nejad said he sensed a similar presence. ?I felt it myself, too, that suddenly the atmosphere changed and for 27-28 minutes the leaders could not blink,? the transcript continues. ?I am not exaggerating?because I was looking. All the leaders were puzzled, as if a hand held them and made them sit. They had their eyes and ears open for the message from the Islamic Republic.? The staff here at danieldrezner.com confirms that its eyes and ears will definitely be staying open whenever Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad decides to say something.

Since he took office earlier this year, the militance of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad has alienated many of his natural supporters in Iran. If you think his prior statements have made some question his sanity, however, wait until people read this Financial Times story by Gareth Smyth and Najmeh Bozorgmehr:

A leading website in Iran has published a transcript and video recording of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad claiming to have felt ?a light? while addressing world leaders at the United Nations in New York in September. Baztab.com ? a website linked to Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards ? said the recording was made in a meeting between the president and Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, one of Iran?s leading Shia Muslim clerics. According to the transcript, Mr Ahmadi-Nejad said someone present at the UN, possibly from his entourage, subsequently told him: ?When you began with the words ?In the name of God?? I saw a light coming, surrounding you and protecting you to the end [of the speech].? Mr Ahmadi-Nejad said he sensed a similar presence. ?I felt it myself, too, that suddenly the atmosphere changed and for 27-28 minutes the leaders could not blink,? the transcript continues. ?I am not exaggerating?because I was looking. All the leaders were puzzled, as if a hand held them and made them sit. They had their eyes and ears open for the message from the Islamic Republic.?

The staff here at danieldrezner.com confirms that its eyes and ears will definitely be staying open whenever Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad decides to say something.

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

Tag: Theory

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