mahˈmud ʔahmadineˈʒɒd. His name transliterates into Persian as محمود אחמדיניג'אדاحمدی‌نژاد Maḥmūd Aḥmadīnezhād, and can be transliterated into English as Mahmud or Mahmood, Ahmadinezhad, Ahmadi-Nejad, Ahmadi Nejad, or Ahmady Nejad. (born October 28, 1956) blank">"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" Accessed 27-01-2008. is the sixth and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He became president on August 6, _2005 after winning the 2005 presidential election by popular vote. Before becoming president, he was the mayor of Tehran. He is the highest directly elected official in the country; however, according to Article 113 blank">"IRI's Constitution, Article 113". Accessed 27-01-2008. of _Constitution of Iran, he has less total power than the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Iran and has the final word in all aspects of foreign and domestic policies.

Ahmadinejad is a critic of the George W. Bush Administration and supports strengthened relations with Russia, Venezuela, Syria, and the Persian Gulf states. Deghanpisheh, Babak. blank">"Bear Hugs." World Press Review. Accessed 03-05-2007. "Oiling the Axis - Iran and Venezuela develop closer ties." Jane's Information Group. Accessed 29-07-2007. "Broader ties among Persian Gulf states in region's interest - Ahmadinejad." IRNA. Accessed 29-07-2007. He has said Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and has refused to end enrichment despite _United Nations Security Council resolutions.

He has called for the dissolution of the state of Israel and its government, which he does not regard as legitimate or representative of the population, and for "free elections" in the region. He believes that the Palestinians need a stronger voice in the region's future. One of his most controversial statements was one in which, according to some translations, he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," but interpretations of this statement vary widely.

• east/4529198.stm" target="_blank">"Holocaust comments spark outrage", BBC News, Accessed 14-12-2005.
• "Iran leader's comments attacked", BBC News, Accessed 27-01-2008.
• Esfandiari, Golnaz. "Iran: President's Latest Comments About Israel Spark Further Condemnation". Radio Free Europe. Accessed 28-01-2008.
• Vick, Karl and Mary Jordan. "World Leaders Condemn Iranian's Call to Wipe Israel 'Off the Map'". _Washington Post. Accessed 28-10-2005.
• blank">"NCC Condemns Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust Statement". _National Council of Churches. Accessed 16-12-2007.
• Slackman, Michael. blank">"In Tehran, a riposte to the Danish cartoons". _The New York Times, Accessed 24-09-2007.
• blank">"Germans Protest Against Ahmadinejad, Racism As Cup Opens". _Deutsche Welle, Accessed 11-06-2006. *blank">"Annan: 'Dismay' over Iranian comments on Israel". CNN. Accessed 27-09-2007.
• Fathi, Nazila. "Text of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Speech". New York Times. Accessed 17-10-2006.
• "Iran vote seen as referendum on Ahmadinejad". _The Boston Globe. Accessed 27-12-2006.

blank">"Iranian Leader Opens Up:Ahmadinejad Speaks Candidly With Mike Wallace About Israel, Nukes, Bush", _60 Minutes, CBS News. CBS News. Accessed 2006-10-18 He has also been condemned for describing the Holocaust as a myth. which has led to accusations of anti-semitism.

• blank">"Iran team face mass protest", _The Guardian, Accessed 11-06-2007.
• blank">"Eurovision may ban Israeli entry due to lyrics on nuclear war", _Haaretz, Accessed 03-02-2007.
• blank">"Iran's Rhetoric on Holocaust Anger German Muslims", _Deutsche Welle, Accessed 18-02-2007.
• Stephens, Bret. blank">"Anti-Anti-Semitism defended", _The New Republic, Accessed 12-02-2007.
• blank">"We won't be fooled again". _The News Leader. 15-02-2007.
• Namazi, Ghassem. blank">"We should be sorry". Iranian.com. Accessed 01-02-2006..
• Sayyed, Tashbih. The Bane Of Jihad. Muslim World Today. Accessed 26-01-2007.
• Ivins, Molly. "Ivins: Wow! Some real diplomacy!", _CNN, Accessed 08-06-2006.
• blank">"Iran: Nuclear talks still possible". _CNN. Accessed 05-02-2006.
• Smith-Spark, Laura. blank">"Racism fears dog World Cup build-up". _BBC News. Accessed 26-05-2006.
• blank">"Annan condemns Holocaust denial". _BBC News. Accessed 27-01-2006.
• "He was defeated by the even more hard-line and anti-Semitic Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...". Joel C. Rosenberg. Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2006, p. 109, ISBN 1414311354
• "Israel Wants West to Deal More Urgently With Iran" The New York Times. Accessed 17-05-2007.
• "NCC Condemns Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust Statement", National Council of Churches, Accessed 16-12-2005.

In response to these criticisms, Ahmadinejad said “No, I am not anti-Jew, I respect them very much.”

During his presidency, Ahmadinejad launched a gas rationing plan to reduce the country's fuel consumption and cut the interest rate for private and public banking facilities. "Iran interest rate cut sparks panic selling" Guardian Unlimited.Accessed 29-07-2007. مدیریت و" برنامه ریزی منحل ش" BBC Persian. Accessed 29-07-2007.