Iranian former president Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has joined the chorus of criticism of ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s mismanagement of the country during his 2005-13 tenure. Mr Rafsanjani has directly attacked the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the economy during this period. Mr Ahmadinejad, an ex-member of the IRGC, facilitated the award of more government loans and contracts to them during his eight-year administration, making the para-military group a dominant power in Iran.
Mr Rafsanjani is Chairman of the Expediency Council, whose main task is to resolve differences between the Majlis (parliament) and Council of Guardians. Former presidents Rafsanjani and Ahmadinejad have had many political clashes in the past. (CONTINUED - 693 WORDS)
