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TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader yesterday appointed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the Expediency Council, the country’s top political arbitration body headed by an avid critic of the outgoing president. In announcing the appointment, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised Ahmadinejad’s “worthy

efforts” as president.

“Considering the profuse experience you gained during eight years of worthy efforts, I appoint you as a member of the Expediency Council,” read a statement posted on Khamenei’s website

The council is headed by ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who repeatedly criticised Ahmadinejad during his turbulent eight-year presidency for his controversial political and economic policies.

It is dominated by conservatives and acts as an advisory body for Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic republic who has final say on all key policies, including nuclear talks and foreign policy.
Ahmadinejad vacated office on Saturday after two four-year terms.

He was succeeded by moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani, who has promised to engage constructively with world powers over Iran’s contentious nuclear drive and to stave up the shrinking economy.

In the last two years of his presidency, Ahmadinejad fell from grace with Khamenei following a public power struggle, and during his tenure he was also involved in high-profile feuds with parliament speaker Ali Larijani and judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani.

The Expediency Council comprises high-ranking religious and political figures and former government officials. It is also tasked with resolving legislative issues between the parliament and the Guardians Council, which interprets the constitution.

Meanwhile, an Iranian national has been arrested on charges of  spying for Israel, Press TV reported yesterday.
The man was arrested in southeastern city of Kerman and is on trial for passing intelligence about Iran to Israel, head of Kerman’s Revolution Court, Dadkhoda Salari, was quoted as saying yesterday.

The defendant, whose identity has not been revealed, had been involved in trade activities in Southeast Asian countries and in his last trip to Thailand, the agent passed intelligence about the Islamic republic to the Israeli embassy in Bangkok, said the provincial judiciary official.

He said the spy intended to pass intelligence gathered about Iran’s economy, geography and even the mines of Kerman province to his handler in a second trip but was unsuccessful and detained. — AFP-Xinhua.