Mahmoud Ahmadinejad strongly criticized the election process in Iran in an interview with CNBC.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former President of Iran and a disqualified candidate in the 2022 elections who criticizes various government policies, spoke to CNBC about various issues, including the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers, the presidential election, and the management of the coronavirus in Iran.

Regarding the nuclear agreement, Mr. Ahmadinejad said that the JCPOA created more problems than it solved.

He, however, stated that a new nuclear deal with the United States is possible, but given the obvious differences between the parties, he believes that the two countries must "change their perspectives and look at each other differently."

Mr. Ahmadinejad said that problems can be solved if they proceed on the basis of "justice and mutual respect."

Regarding his disqualification by the Guardian Council, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: "Any decision that prevents the people from influencing the outcome of the election is contrary to the spirit of the revolution and the constitution."

Regarding relations between Iran and the Gulf states, which are improving relations with the United States, Mr. Ahmadinejad said that arms sales remain a challenge to stability in the region.

"When tens of billions of dollars in weapons are sold annually to countries in the region, this creates major problems and threatens regional security and is considered a form of intervention," he said.

Regarding the management of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the former Iranian president said that people believe that the authorities failed in their response to the pandemic. "Frontline workers and medical staff worked tirelessly, but the overall management was ineffective and illogical," he said.

Source: Voice of America