The re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in 2009 caused a degree of political unrest unseen in Iran since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The election result is still disputed. A strong supporter of Tehran's nuclear agenda, Ahmadinejad has overseen developments in the national missiles programme, though he insists that these technological developments will not be used to make a nuclear bomb. However, although Iran is still seen internationally as a problematic state, not many - apart from the former UK prime minister Tony Blair, perhaps - would still clamour for military action, suggesting that Ahmadinejad's malign global influence is less palpable than it was.

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