Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is one of the most unique players on Iran's political stage — an unpredictable figure who is no stranger to political U-turns. On Feb. 11, he officially announced that he would not back any candidate in the May 19 presidential elections. Yet, Ahmadinejad, who was president from 2005 until 2013, has become one of the most active campaigners — even more so than some of the candidates actually running in the race — and he is vigorously supporting his former deputy Hamid Baghaei, who announced his candidacy just days after Ahmadinejad's announcement.

Indeed, the conservative former president's activities have not been what could be called stable.

On Feb. 26, Ahmadinejad wrote a 13-page letter to US President Donald Trump, offering advice in his unique style. A week or so later, on March 5, which is National Tree Planting Day in Iran, Ahmadinejad attended a private ceremony with Baghaei as well as his former chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. The event marked the first time that Ahmadinejad and Baghaei were caught on camera together since the latter announced his candidacy. Although there was no talk of the elections at the ceremony or any declaration of political support for Baghaei, Iranian media and social media networks broadly covered their appearance together. Many described the videos of Mashaei, Baghaei and Ahmadinejad speaking with each other as fake and ridiculed the trio.

Ahmadinejad’s presence on the Iranian political stage has grown in recent weeks. In a statement issued March 4, he attacked the administration of incumbent President Hassan Rouhani. The following day, he officially joined Twitter — even posting a tweet in English along with an video in which he calls on people — in English — to follow his account.