Iran's New President Promises to Bring a Measure of Pragmatism to Negotiations with World Powers Over the Country's Nuclear Program
Iran court summons Ahmadinejad, ups pressure on outgoing leader
June 17, 2013Reuters - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was summoned on Monday to appear before a criminal court on unspecified charges leveled by a conservative rival, days after moderate cleric Hassan Rohani was elected his successor.
Larijani has used his position in parliament to lead a conservative campaign to undermine and block Ahmadinejad.
The stunt backfired as the tape was not fully audible and Larijani dismissed the president from the chamber.
Ahmadinejad has hinted he has incriminating material on a number of prominent figures and has threatened to reveal it should his personal position or safety come under threat.
Rohani won some 51 percent of the vote in the election promising to increase civil rights and bring a measure of pragmatism to Iran's negotiations with world powers over a nuclear program the West says is a cover for making a bomb.
None of the five hardline and conservative candidates ranged against Rohani got more than 17 percent of the vote and Ahmadinejad's protege failed even to pass the state vetting process and make it onto the ballot.
Iran's economy is suffering from the effects of increasingly tight international sanctions due to the nuclear program which it says is peaceful.