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Ahmadinejad Plans To Establish New University


Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech at Tehran University in 2012.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech at Tehran University in 2012.
What will Iran's outgoing president, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, do once he officially steps down later this week?

According to local media in Iran, Ahmadinejad has been given permission by Iran's Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution to open a university for postgraduate studies in Tehran.

Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's right-hand man, has said that Ahmadinejad wants to name the institution "Iranian University."

Quoting Tasnin news agency, AP reports that the university will focus on technology, nanotechnology, aerospace, and nuclear science.

One member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, Mohammad-Hossein Yadegari, says Ahmadinejad "wanted to have scientific activity and work in educating."

Ahmadinejad has a doctorate in transportation engineering from Iran's University of Science and Technology.

Internationally, he might best be remembered for controversial statements about Iran's nuclear program, the Holocaust, homosexuality, and Israel, among other things.

During a farewell ceremony in Tehran earlier this month, Ahmadinejad characterized his denial of the Holocaust as one of his greatest achievements.

He also told reporters on July 25 that he "will continue serving" Iran after he leaves office.

According to a June 22 directive by Gholam-Hossein Elham, the presidential deputy for human resources, Ahmadinejad will form a new "Former President's Office" with a staff of 25 people.

Iran's reformist daily "Shargh" suggested that the office's activities might overlap with the new president's work.

Hamid Baghaei, Ahmadinejad's deputy for executive affairs, has explained that the law allows for presidents and vice presidents to form personal offices once they leave office.

-- Deana Kjuka

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Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org

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