[20080709]RS22569_伊朗：艾哈迈迪内贾德总统简介.pdf

1 The name Saborjhian derives from thread painter Sabor in Farsi a once common andhumble occupation in the carpet industry in Semnan province, where Aradan is situated. Ahmadby contrast is a name also used for prophet Muhammad and means virtuous; Nejad means racein Farsi, so Ahmadinejad can mean Muhammads race or virtuous race. Robert Tait, “HumblingBeginning that Shaped Irans New Hard Man: Ahmadinejad has Tasted the Poverty He Wantsto Eradicate,” The Guardian (Manchester, UK), July 2, 2005, p. 15. Order Code RS22569Updated July 9, 2008Iran: Profile of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Hussein D. HassanInformation Research SpecialistKnowledge Services GroupSummaryIranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad was elected June 24, 2005, to a four-yearterm, becoming the first non-cleric president in 24 years. He defeated former presidentAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a run-off. Prior to his 2005 election to the presidency,Ahmadinejad did not hold an elected office and was a virtual unknown in theinternational arena. This report covers his background; his victory over the well-knownformer president Rafsanjani; his remarks about the West, including Israel; and recentvisits to Iraq and Latin America. F