Former Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad wrote an open letter to President Trump on Sunday in which he both praised the U.S. president for attacking America’s political system and criticized him over his attitude toward women and his visa ban.
At times in the long and rambling letter, published in English and Farsi on his website, he appears to find a kindred spirit in Trump.
"Your Excellency (Trump) has truthfully described the US political system and electoral structure as corrupt and anti-public," he writes.
But much of the letter is spent exhorting Trump to end interventions in the Middle East and ditch the "arrogance" of past US administrations.
Ahmadinejad also takes issue with Trump's visa ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran.
"The presence and constructive effort of the elite and scientists of different nations, including the million-plus population of my Iranian compatriots has had a major role in the development of the US... the contemporary US belongs to all nations."
He also finishes with a short lecture on respecting women -- a possible reference to Trump's recorded claims that he has sexually assaulted some.
"The great men of history have paid the highest level of respect to women and recognised their God-given capabilities," Ahmadinejad writes.
This is not the first open letter the former Iranian leader has written to world leaders. He’s written to former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as the pope.
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