Behind the Scenes: Iranian Leaders and the Women Beside Them

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, born in 1956, served as president from 2005 to 2013. A former Tehran mayor with populist appeal, he championed anti-corruption rhetoric and asserted Iran’s nuclear rights on the global stage. His tenure was marked by fiery anti-Western speeches, economic mismanagement, and controversial elections. The 2009 election sparked massive protests, known as the Green Movement, following allegations of electoral fraud. Ahmadinejad’s confrontational style and centralization of power drew criticism both domestically and internationally.