Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad prevented from traveling to Guatemala

"He has been strongly advised against undertaking the journey, taking into account international sanctions and the risk of detention," the source added. On 18 Sep., the US imposed sanctions on Ahmadinejad and on the country's intelligence ministry over their involvement in “illegal arrests”. The sanctions were imposed after the two countries agreed to a detainee swap. Ahmadinejad was disqualified from running in Iran’s presidential elections in August 2021 elections which was won by Ebrahim Raisi.