In a recent interview with Shargh newspaper, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran once again criticized the judiciary and said that attributing the current economic corruptions of Iran to a certain number of people is a misdirection from the real problem.

He continued: “In a system where 85 percent of the economy and decision making are in the hands of the executive, judiciary, legislative, and other government institutions, what can a single person without any connections to the regime do? He must be working for a part of the system.”

He stated that the judiciary officials must “explain it so the people can understand what these people have done that was illegal…what is Mr. Khavari’s crime? Our constitution says his crime must be proven in a fair trial, otherwise, you cannot accuse someone. Has he had a fair trial? How did he leave the country?”

He added: “I personally didn’t think Khavari was a bad person, but I did not agree with his appointment as the chairman (of the central bank), but these decisions are not made by the president. Therefore, I knew they were going to sacrifice him and accuse him due to other issues.”

Regarding Mahafarid who was executed, Ahmadinejad said: “Was he acting alone, or did he have supporters within the system?”

He also offered his opinion on Babak Zanjani: “The president is never informed about where we sell our oil. The ministry of oil has a special apparatus for it. Even Mr. Rouhani doesn’t know to whom the oil is sold unless he gets curious and asks. In our bureaucracy, oil sales don’t go through the president’s office.

Regarding Saeed Mortazavi, he said: “Our reformist friends have issues with him, rightfully so. Because he really was hard on them. But our reformist friends do not dare to criticize the judiciary and those who appointed Mortazavi, so they come after me for hiring him in the government two years after he left the judiciary!”

Several people close to Ahmadinejad have been incarcerated in recent years.