that he will retire from politics when he leaves the presidency a little over a year from now.
In an interview with Germany’s Frankfurter Alle-gemeine Sonntagszeitung, he said he planned to resume teaching at a university.
Many in Iran have anticipated that Ahmadi-nejad would try to organize a party and promote the candidacy of an anointed successor so as to be able to keep his hand in politics. Ahmadi-nejad, however, said, “I will not found any political party or group.” He was no asked if he would endorse any candidate in next spring’s presidential elections.
Ahmadi-nejad is required by the Constitution to leave office after two four-year terms. However, after a break from office, he could run again, as former President Rafsanjani did, unsuccessfully, in 2005. Asked if he might copy Russian President Vladimir Putin and run again after sitting out one term, Ahmadi-nejad was quite firm: “No, eight years is enough,” he said.
Presidential elections are scheduled for next spring. Ahmadi-nejad’s term is up in early August 2013.