TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run again for the Islamic Republic’s presidency. His decision Wednesday raises the possibility that the populist leader who rapidly advanced Tehran’s nuclear program to challenge the West could return to the country’s top civilian post. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Ahmadinejad off from running in 2017, that hasn’t happened this time. That means Ahmadinejad may join the wide-open election to replace the relative moderate President Hassan Rouhani. A council Khamenei oversees ultimately will determine if Ahmadinejad and others hopefuls can run in the June 18 poll.
