History of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 14, 2026

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. A controversial figure, his presidency was marked by a populist domestic agenda and an assertive, confrontational foreign policy. He gained global notoriety for his provocative rhetoric regarding the Holocaust, his aggressive stance toward Israel, and his defiance of international pressure concerning Iran's nuclear program, which led to significant economic sanctions. Domestically, his tenure was characterized by attempts to redistribute wealth through social programs and subsidies, though his economic policies were often criticized for contributing to high inflation and instability. Ahmadinejad’s 2009 reelection sparked massive nationwide protests—known as the Green Movement—due to allegations of electoral fraud, deepening political polarization within the country. His political career solidified his reputation as a hardliner, and he remains a divisive influence in Iranian politics, frequently challenging the status quo even after leaving the presidency.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

October 1956: Birth of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (né Sabbaghian) was born in October 1956, marking the beginning of the life of the future Iranian president.

Others born on this day/year

1960: Change of Family Name to Ahmadinejad

In 1960, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's father officially changed the family surname from Saborjhian or Sabbaghian to Ahmadinejad. This decision was made to avoid social discrimination following the family's relocation to Tehran, with the new name signifying 'the lineage of Ahmad'.

1976: University Entrance and Enrollment

In 1976, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat for Iran's national university entrance exam, achieving a ranking of 132nd out of 400,000 applicants, which led to his enrollment as a civil engineering undergraduate at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

1986: Admission to Master of Science program

In 1986, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was accepted into a Master of Science program at his alma mater to further his academic studies.

1989: Commencement of faculty lectureship

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his teaching career in 1989 by joining the faculty at his alma mater as a lecturer.

1993: Appointment as Provincial Governor

In 1993, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his tenure as a provincial governor, marking a significant step in his political career.

1993: Appointment as Governor General of Ardabil Province

In 1993, while pursuing his doctoral studies in Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was appointed as the governor general of the newly established Ardabil Province.

1997: Removal from Office by Mohammad Khatami

In 1997, Mohammad Khatami removed Ahmadinejad from his position as governor general of Ardabil Province, leading Ahmadinejad to return to his teaching career.

1997: Removal from Provincial Governorship

In 1997, following the election of President Mohammad Khatami, Ahmadinejad was replaced as provincial governor along with other officials and subsequently returned to his teaching career.

1997: Completion of doctoral studies

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad successfully completed his academic training in 1997, receiving his doctorate in civil engineering and traffic transportation planning.

2003: Appointed Mayor of Tehran

In 2003, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began his tenure as the mayor of Tehran, a role he held until 2005 during which he actively reversed many reforms established by his predecessor.

June 2005: Resignation as Mayor of Tehran and World Mayor Recognition

In June 2005, following his election as President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's resignation as the Mayor of Tehran was officially accepted. Prior to this departure, he had been recognized as one of 65 finalists for the 2005 World Mayor award, having been selected from a pool of 550 nominees. Although he was considered a top-three candidate for the final list, his resignation rendered him ineligible for the award.

August 2005: Ahmadinejad's Presidential Inauguration

On 3 August 2005, following his victory in the run-off election against Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was officially authorized as the President of Iran by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. During the inauguration ceremony, Ahmadinejad demonstrated his allegiance by kissing the Supreme Leader's hand.

August 2005: Inauguration as President of Iran

On August 3, 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially became the president of Iran after securing 62% of the votes in the runoff election during his 2005 campaign supported by the Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran.

2005: Support from Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi

In 2005, Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, who served as Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor and founder of the Haghani School, provided significant backing for Ahmadinejad's presidential campaign.

2005: Inauguration as President of Iran

In 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assumed office as the sixth president of Iran, beginning a two-term presidency that lasted until 2013.

June 2006: Economists' Criticism and Ahmadinejad's Response

In June 2006, a group of 50 Iranian economists authored a letter to President Ahmadinejad criticizing his government's price intervention policies for goods and services, as well as a proposed 40% wage increase for workers. Ahmadinejad responded to this critique in June 2006 by publicly denouncing the economists' claims and defending his economic stance.

2006: Loss in the 2006 City Council Elections

In 2006, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's political allies suffered a significant defeat in the nationwide city council and Assembly of Experts elections. With a 60% voter turnout, the results indicated a shift toward moderate political policies and were widely viewed as a electoral blow to both Ahmadinejad and his ideological partner, Mesbah Yazdi.

2007: Implementation of Gasoline Rationing and Banking Reforms

In 2007, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad introduced a new gasoline rationing plan intended to lower national fuel consumption and implemented significant reforms to banking regulations by capping interest rates for both private and public financial institutions.

August 2008: Supreme Leader Endorsement

On 23 August 2008, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei signaled his support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's potential reelection by publicly stating that he envisioned Ahmadinejad serving as president for the next five years.

June 2009: 2009 Iranian Presidential Election Results

On 12 June 2009, Iran held a presidential election in which 39,165,191 ballots were cast. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner with 24,527,516 votes (62.63%), while runner-up Mir-Hossein Mousavi received 13,216,411 votes (33.75%).

September 2009: Majlis Cabinet Approval Vote

On 4 September 2009, the Iranian Majlis approved 18 out of 21 cabinet candidates proposed by President Ahmadinejad. The body rejected three candidates: Sousan Keshavarz for Education, Mohammad Aliabadi for Energy, and Fatemeh Ajorlou for Welfare and Social Security. Notably, Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi became the first woman approved as a minister in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

2009: Contested Re-election and Domestic Unrest

Following his declared victory in the 2009 presidential election, widespread allegations of irregularities emerged, leading to significant domestic protests and international criticism of Ahmadinejad's second term in office.

March 2012: Ahmadinejad summoned to the Islamic Consultative Assembly

On 14 March 2012, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the first president in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be formally summoned by the Islamic Consultative Assembly to answer parliamentary questions regarding his administration.

May 2012: Defeat in Parliamentary Elections

In May 2012, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad experienced a significant political setback during the parliamentary elections. The "Principlist" allies of Ayatollah Khamenei secured approximately three-quarters of the 290 parliamentary seats, while candidates aligned with Ahmadinejad performed poorly, resulting in a diminished base of support for the president within the legislative body.

2013: Hassan Rouhani elected as successor

In 2013, following the conclusion of Ahmadinejad's two-term limit under the Iranian constitution, Hassan Rouhani was elected as the new president of Iran, succeeding Ahmadinejad.

2013: Conclusion of Presidency

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's service as the president of Iran concluded in 2013, marking the end of his eight-year term which began in 2005.

April 2017: 2017 Presidential Election Candidacy

On 12 April 2017, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad formally announced his intention to run for a third term as president of Iran, defying explicit objections from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His candidacy was subsequently disqualified by the Guardian Council.

2021: 2021 Presidential Election Registration

In 2021, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attempted to register as a candidate for the Iranian presidential election; however, the Guardian Council rejected his nomination.

2024: 2024 Presidential Election Registration

During the 2024 Iranian presidential election cycle, Ahmadinejad sought to register his candidacy for the presidency, but his nomination was once again rejected by the vetting authorities.

26 July 2009: Ahmadinejad faces constitutional crisis over cabinet sacking

On 26 July 2009, the government led by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad encountered a significant legal challenge after the president dismissed four cabinet ministers. Under Article 136 of the Iranian constitution, replacing more than half of the cabinet members requires a fresh vote of confidence from the Majlis before the government can resume operations, leading the Majlis to declare all cabinet meetings and decisions illegal until a new vote occurred.

3 August 2009: Formal Endorsement by Supreme Leader

On 3 August 2009, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei formally endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president, following a period of intense dispute and allegations of electoral fraud by opposition supporters.

5 August 2009: Second Term Inauguration of Ahmadinejad

On 5 August 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for his second term as president of Iran. The ceremony, which was boycotted by prominent political figures and faced by opposition protests, included an oath of office broadcast on Iranian state television.