In a new onslaught on moderate President Hassan Rouhani, former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the signature foreign policy achievement of the incumbent administration.

In remarks published by Iranian media June 5, Ahmadinejad claimed that Rouhani was the cause for the United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iran over its nuclear program. The remarks were reportedly made during a trip to the northwestern city of Tabriz on May 31.

"The pretext for all the resolutions and sanctions was [from developments] … that were before my presidency … and when the current president was responsible for the nuclear [file]. I told them to release [relevant information] and [asked] why they are depicting me as guilty?" said Ahmadinejad.

Of note, Rouhani served as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council for 16 years (1989-2005). Between 2003 and 2005, he led nuclear negotiations with the E3 (Britain, France and Germany), which ultimately failed mainly due to US pressure. Subsequently, during Ahmadinejad's presidency (2005-2013), six resolutions were passed against Iran by the UN Security Council.