The foreign policy of the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration was the policy initiatives towards other states by the former president of Iran, as different from past and also future of the Iranian foreign policy. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's tenure as president came at a time of greater conflict, rhetorical or physical, than his predecessors. In following this there were various measures, external or internal, that led to his policy changes. This was primarily a division between relations with states of the Western world (led by the United States) and the rest of the world (countries such as Venezuela and the Arab countries of Lebanon and Palestine).

Background In a break with the old regime, the face of the Islamic Republic in the west was changed early in Ahmadinejad's administration via the return to Iran of "virtually the entire corps of ambassadors based in the West" — diplomats who were experienced but also quite reform-minded.Majd, Hooman, The Ayatollah Begs to Differ : The Paradox of Modern Iran, by Hooman Majd, Doubleday, 2008, p.49Wright, Robin, Dreams and Shadows : the Future of the Middle East, Penguin Press, 2008, p.320

Relations with the United States

During Ahmadinejad's presidency, Iran and the U.S. have had the most high-profile contact in almost 30 years. Iran and the US froze diplomatic relations in 1980 and had no direct diplomatic contact until May 2007.Gollust, David. "US Ready For Another Meeting With Iran." Voice of America. Retrieved 26 January 2008.

While the U.S. has linked its support for a Palestinian state to acceptance of Israel's "right to exist," Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has retorted that Israel should be moved to Europe instead, reiterating Muammar al-Gaddafi's 1990 statement. The U.S. has sent signals to Iran that its posturing against Israel's right to exist is unacceptable in their opinion, leading to increased speculation of a U.S. led attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Even though Iran has denied involvement in Iraq, then-President Bush warned of "consequences," sending a clear message to Iran that the U.S. may take military action against it. The Bush administration considered Iran to be the world's leading state supporter of terrorism. Iran has been on the U.S. list of state sponsors of international terrorism since 1984,Armitage, Richard. "U.S. Policy and Iran. Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 1 December 2006.Burns, R. Nicholas. "U.S. Policy and Iran. Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 1 December 2006."State Sponsors of Terrorism." U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 5 February 2007. a claim that Iran and Ahmadinejad have denied.

On 8 May 2006, Ahmadinejad sent a personal letter to then-President George W. Bush to propose "new ways" to end Iran's nuclear dispute."Timeline: US-Iran ties." BBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2006. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley both reviewed the letter and dismissed it as a negotiating ploy and publicity stunt that did not address U.S. concerns about Iran's nuclear program.Vick, Karl. "No Proposals in Iranian's Letter to Bush, U.S. Says." The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 October 2006. A few days later at a meeting in Jakarta, Ahmadinejad said, "the letter was an invitation to monotheism and justice, which are common to all divine prophets.""President says his letter to President Bush was invitation to Islam." Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved 29 October 2006.

In 2006, Ahmadinejad also challenged George W. Bush to a live TV-debate about world affairs and ways to solve those issues. George W. Bush turned down this offer."Iran TV debate challenge to Bush." BBC News.

Ahmadinejad invited Bush to a debate at the United Nations General Assembly, which was to take place on 19 September 2006. The debate was to be about Iran's right to enrich uranium. The invitation was rejected by White House spokesman Tony Snow, who said "There's not going to be a steel-cage grudge match between the President and Ahmadinejad.""No 'steel-cage, grudge match' between Bush, Ahmadinejad." CNN. Retrieved 10 January 2007.

In November 2006, Ahmadinejad wrote an open letter to the American people,"Ahmadinejad's letter to Americans." CNN. Retrieved 26 January 2008. representing some of his anxieties and concerns. He stated that there is an urgency to have a dialog because of the activities of the US administration in the Middle East, and that the US is concealing the truth about current realities."Message of H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President of the Republic of Iran to the American People." Fox News Channel. Retrieved 29 November 2006.

The United States Senate passed a resolution warning Iran about attacks in Iraq. On 26 September 2007, the United States Senate passed a resolution 76–22 and labeled an arm of the Iranian military as a terrorist organization.

In September 2007 Ahmadinejad visited New York to address the General Assembly of the United Nations. On the same trip, Columbia University invited Ahmadinejad to visit and participate in a debate. The invitation was a controversial one for the university, as was university president Lee Bollinger's introduction in which he described the Iranian leader as a "cruel and petty dictator" and his views as "astonishingly uneducated;" and for Ahmadinejad's statement in answer to a question — "We don't have homosexuals like in your country. We don't have that in our country. We don't have this phenomenon; I don't know who's told you we have it" — which prompted laughter and booing from the audience.President Ahmadinejad Delivers Remarks at Columbia University, CQ Transcripts Wire, 24 September 2007

In a speech given in April 2008, Ahmadinejad described the 11 September 2001 attacks as a "suspect event." He minimized the attacks by saying all that had happened was, "a building collapsed." He claimed that the death toll was never published, that the victims' names were never published, and that the attacks were used subsequently as pretext for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In October 2008, President Ahmadinejad expressed his happiness of the 2008 financial crisis and what he called "collapse of liberalism". He said the West has been driven to deadend and that Iran was proud "to put an end to liberal economy". Ahmadinejad used a September 2008 speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations to assert the American empire is soon going to end without specifying how. "The American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders," Ahmadinejad said.

On 6 November 2008 (two days after the 2008 US Presidential Election), Ahmadinejad congratulated Barack Obama upon election to President of the United States, and said that he "welcomes basic and fair changes in U.S. policies and conducts, I hope you will prefer real public interests and justice to the never-ending demands of a selfish minority and seize the opportunity to serve people so that you will be remembered with high esteem". It is the first congratulatory message to a new elected president of the United States by an Iranian president since the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. CNN

Since Ahmadinejad came to power Iran has stopped selling its oil in dollars, instead selling it in euros and other currencies in the Iranian oil bourse.

Regional relations Immediately after the Islamic Revolution, Iran's relations with most of its neighbors, particularly those with large Shi'a minorities, were severely strained.Abdel-Mageed, Dina "Has the Revolution Affected Iran's Relations With Its Neighbors?" . Retrieved 26 January 2008. Ahmadinejad's priority in the region has been to improve ties with most of Iran's neighbors in order to strengthen Iran's status and influence in both the Middle East and Greater Muslim World. "Saudi-Iran Meeting Yields Little Substance." . Retrieved 26 January 2008.

Turkey has always been important in the region due to its ties to the West through NATO, Israel,Vest, Jason "Turkey, Israel and the US." The Nation. Retrieved 26 January 2006. and its candidate status in the European Union. Ahmadinejad visited Ankara to reinforce relations with Turkey immediately after the 2007 NIE report was released."Ahmadinejad seeks to improve Iran image with Ankara visit." Turkish Daily News. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Relations were briefly strained after President Abdullah Gul had stated that he wants the atomic threat to be eliminated from the region, perhaps a hint to Iran;"Israel, Turkey patch up relations.". Retrieved 26 January 2008. however, business has remained cordial between the two countries."Turkey's Botas says Iran is important gas partner." Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Despite US disapproval, they signed a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline deal in late 2007."Turkey to fund $3.5 bln Iran gas deal alone." Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2008.

Iran's relations with the Arab states have been complex, partly due to the Islamic Revolution of decades ago, as well as more recent efforts by the United States to establish a united front against Iran over the nuclear issue and war on terror."Bush Urges Unity Against Iran." The New York Times. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Ahmadinejad has sought reconciliation with the Arab states by encouraging bilateral trade and posturing for Iranian entry into the Gulf Cooperation Council."Ahmadi-Nejad message to Gulf states on relations with Iran." . Retrieved 26 January 2008. Outside the Persian Gulf, Ahmadinejad has sought to reestablish relations with other major Arab states, most notably Egypt."Iran anxious to reopen embassy in Cairo." . Retrieved 26 January 2008. As of 2007, Iran did not have an open embassy there.

Iran's ties to Syria have been most notable in the West. Both nations have had to deal with international and regional isolation."Ahmadinejad visits Syria." The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Both have cordial ties to the militant group, Hezbollah, and concerns over Iran-Syria relations were further exacerbated following the 2006 Lebanon War,"Speaking with the enemy." Asia Times Online. Retrieved 26 January 2008. which both Ahmadinejad and President Assad claimed as a victory over Israel.

Ahmadinejad has also tried to develop stronger, more intimate ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, to ensure "regional stability.""Iran-Pakistan- Afghanistan friendly ties to ensure regional security." IRNA. Retrieved 26 January 2008. In particular, Ahmadinejad is interested in more bilateral talks between Iran and both Afghanistan and Pakistan. His administration has helped establish the "peace pipeline" from Iran that will eventually fuel both Pakistan and India. In theory, the plan will help to integrate South Asian economies, and, thus to calm tensions between Pakistan and India.Shahid, Sohaib. "Iran-Pak-India gas pipeline: implications and prospects." Business and Finance Review. Retrieved 26 January 2008.

Ahmadinejad met foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan to discuss increased cooperation between the two nations."Ahmadinejad meets Azeri FM." Fars. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Mammadyarov also expressed desire to expand the north–south corridor between Iran and Azerbaijan and to launch cooperative projects for power plant construction. Iran has also redoubled efforts to forge ties with Armenia; during Ahmadinejad's visit in October 2007 the discussions were focused on developing energy ties between the two countries.Whitemore, Brian. "Energy to dominate Ahmadinejad's Armenia visit." Energy Publisher. Retrieved 26 January 2008.

Egypt