8 August 2016, 14:28 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ahmadinejad was Iran's president in 2005-2013. In contrast to incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, Ahmadinejad took strong anti-Western stance. His public appearances over the past several months have led to talks suggesting his participation in the presidential race.
"I have no plan to run in the next year's election," Ahmadinejad said, as quoted by Fars news agency, in a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Ahmadinejad, he made his decision due to Khamenei's recommendation who advised him against running for president at their meeting in August.
"You advised me that my participation in this round of elections won't be expedient and I stated my compliance," Ahmadinejad's letter addressed to Khamenei reads.
