Iran confiscated on Thursday the passport of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and prevented him from traveling over security reasons including the international sanctions imposed on him and concerns about getting arrested over his membership in the Expediency Discernment Council.
Ahmadinejad was prevented from traveling to Guatemala to participate in a conference, according to the Dolat Bahar website.
The website reported that security agents confiscated Ahmadinejad's passport at Imam Khomeini International Airport, claiming that he was prohibited from departing.
IRGC-affiliated Tasnim agency affirmed the travel ban on Ahmadinejad, revealing that he was informed earlier that he wouldn’t be allowed to travel to avoid the security risks.
It added that Iran has no active embassy in Guatemala while the Zionist entity and other groups are active there.
The Sabrin News Telegram channel, which is closely affiliated with the IRGC, quoted a source as saying that Ahmadinejad's trip to Guatemala was canceled due to the "precarious political situation" in that country and "reports of potential security concerns."
"He has been strongly advised against undertaking the journey, taking into account international sanctions and the risk of detention," the source added.
On 18 Sep., the US imposed sanctions on Ahmadinejad and on the country's intelligence ministry over their involvement in “illegal arrests”.
The sanctions were imposed after the two countries agreed to a detainee swap.
Ahmadinejad was disqualified from running in Iran’s presidential elections in August 2021 elections which was won by Ebrahim Raisi.
He had harshly criticized the Iranian government and judiciary during the term of former President Hassan Rouhani, especially after he was removed from the presidential race in 2017.
Ahmadinejad was also associated with the legislative elections scheduled for next February-March.
In a press interview, the representative of the city of Tabriz, MP Ahmed Ali Reza Baghi, said that Ahmadinejad doesn't intend to participate in the upcoming legislative elections or support any electoral lists or candidates.
Baghi denied that Ahmadinejad was close to becoming an opponent of the regime.
The Iranian deputy expressed his regret that the country was going through situations that Ahmadinejad had warned would happen.
Despite Ahmadinejad’s severe criticism of the authority, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei renewed his membership at the Expediency Discernment Council and ruled out former President Hassan Rouhani.
