December 06-2013
. . . challenger
Former President Ahmadinejad Tuesday invited his successor to debate him on “baseless and unfair” accusations made by many Rohani Administration officials that Ahmadi-nejad is largely responsible for Iran’s economic ills.
During a televised speech to mark his first 100 days in office last week, President Rohani said Ahmadi-nejad’s profligacy and mismanagement were as much to blame for inflation and currency devaluation as international sanctions.
Other officials have said Ahmadi-nejad did much more damage to Iran’s economy than all the sanctions put together.
Rohani said his government had inherited some $67 billion dollars of debt from Ahmadi-nejad, even though Iran raked in $600 billion in oil revenue during his eight-year tenure.
Writing to Rohani, Ahmadi-nejad, who left office August 3, said he had decided to respond to what he called factually incorrect comments that could lead to “misguided” decision-making.
“I found it necessary to invite your excellency to … clear up ambiguities and subject the facts to scrutiny in a friendly atmosphere and frank debate,” Ahmadi-nejad wrote.
An adviser to Rohani said the president welcomed the invitation to a debate on condition that Ahmadi-nejad “respects the truth,” according to the Fars news agency.
Although the former president said he was eager to debate his policies, last week he failed to make a scheduled court appearance to defend himself on charges related to his economic performance while in office.
Akbar Torkan, a Rohani adviser, said, “As a brother, I advise Mr. Ahmadi-nejad to seek penitence from God and the nation because he brought a multitude of problems on the country in the fields of economy, politics and people’s trust in the state.”