Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused the current leadership of incompetence and ignorance, days after being barred from taking part in next month's presidential elections, according to an opposition website.
"I don't think the country could have been run worse," he's quoted as saying on the Kaleme website.
"I don't want to stoop to their propaganda and attacks but ignorance is troubling," Mr Rafsanjani was quoted as saying to members of his campaign team.
"They don't understand what they're doing."
The Guardian Council only approved eight candidates to stand in the election, all of whom are conservative figures.
Prior to his disqualification, Rafsanjani excited high interest in a ballot that many had felt would be held between hardliners, loyal to the country's leadership.
“In no instance should people despair. There will be a day when those who must come, will come,” he said, referring to reformist candidates who have been overlooked this time.
The former President has been considered a threat to the leadership after he criticised the state authorities' harsh response to protests in the wake of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election four years ago.
