IFP- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. During the meeting, the former president was advised against running for the next year�s presidential elections as it would cause division within the society.

In an interview with Entekhab, as translated by IFP, Gholam-Reza Mesbahi Moqaddam, a senior conservative, noted that the conservative camp benefited the most from Ahmadinejad�s absence.

�Now that Ahmadinejad will not run for presidency, it will be much easier for conservatives to agree on choosing one candidate for 2017 Presidential elections,� Mesbahi Moqaddam noted.

�His presence in upcoming elections could cause division, because a major share of conservatives don�t believe in him, and if he would run for presidency, conservatives had to choose two candidates for the polls,� he added.

Mesbahi Moqaddam also dismissed the rumours about possible disqualification of President Hassan Rouhani from running for next year�s presidential votes, and said that it is very unlikely.