'''Mahmoud Ahmadinejad''' is the current president of the [[Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]], and the former mayor of [[Tehran]]. Since coming to power, on a campaign based on stamping out corruption, in 2005, he has pursued an agenda defined by support of Islamic fundamentalism, strong anti-Americanism, and anti-Zionism. Under Ahmadinejad's rule Iran has put a large amount of effort into [[Nuclear program of Iran|producing nuclear technology]], possibly for nuclear weapons, although Iran has not yet been successful in this endeavor.[[Image:Hostage.jpg|thumb|240px|right|The AP photo.]]
The inset photo taken 26 years prior shows a man looking very much like a younger version of today's Ahmadinejad at the time of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis as someone involved with the hostage taking. Five former American hostages have stated that Ahmadinejad was one of their captors. A former US intelligence officer, said "I recognized him right off. … I remember so much his hatred of Americans. It just emanated from every pore of his body." <ref>*[http://www.danielpipes.org/article/4115 Ahmadinejad - Hostage Taker?], Daniel Pipes ''Kommersant'' (Moscow daily), November 13, 2006.</ref> One A However, one American hostage questions disputes this, however. Other photos also existclaim. <ref>http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014049.php</ref>
Ahmadinajed's foreign policies have been criticized by many within his country and government, who think he is too extreme and will cause their country to be attacked by the [[United States]].