Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Persian: محمود احمدی نژاد, Mahmūd Ahmadinezhād mæhmuːd-e æhmædiː-neʒɒːd (help·info); born 28 October 1956^{[citation needed]}) is the sixth and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He became president after winning the 2005 presidential election and was elected to a second term in 2009 after a disputed election.^[1] Many Iranians are involved in ongoing mass protests claiming election fraud and other abuses.^[2] Despite his title, he does not hold the highest constitutional office in Iran, which belongs to the Supreme Leader of Iran (Ali Khamenei), who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Iran, according to Article 113 of the Constitution of Iran.^[3] Prior to becoming president, Ahmadinejad was mayor of Tehran and governor general of Iran's Ardabil Province.^[4]

The legitimacy of his presidency has been widely questioned by a number of influential Iranian politicians, traditional clerical circles^[5] and Iranian major parties, including Islamic Iran Participation Front and National Confidence Party.^[6][7] Ex-prime minister Mousavi, former president Khatami, former parliament speaker Karroubi and Grand marja Yousef Sanei^[8] are among those who called the government illegitimate.^[9][10] Several western governments and international bodies have questioned the legitimacy of 2009 presidential election result too. ^[11]

Ahmadinejad has been a critic of the United States and Israel, and backs strengthening Iran's relations with Russia, Venezuela, Syria, and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.^[12][13] During his term, Iran has also been the largest regional aid donor to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Ahmadinejad claims that Iran's nuclear program is for electricity generation and not for nuclear weapons development. Under his leadership, Iran has refused to end nuclear enrichment despite United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for it to do so.^[14] Ahmadinejad argues that the sanctions imposed by the West over Iran's nuclear enrichment are illegal and that Iran will continue to abide by International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring of its nuclear program, though it has not followed through on this promise.^[15]

According to a speech translation disputed by the Iranian government, Ahmadinejad has called for the dissolution of the state of Israel.^[16][17] He also calls for free elections in the region. He believes that the Palestinians need a stronger voice in the region's future.^[18][19]

One of Ahmadinejad's most controversial statements was one in which, according to the initial Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting translation, he called for the "occupying regime" to