Hassan Rouhani, in a meeting with some of his ministers and deputies during his presidency, said: “In our society sometimes there is a minority that says strange things. There is a minority that says that if this war is intensified and spreads, the Mahdi’s appearance will happen sooner, and that in order for the Mahdi to appear we must intensify the war.”

He added: “In 1383 [2004/2005], a person wanted to build a large platform for the speech of the Mahdi in one of the main squares of Tehran. He also intended to procure an advanced sound system so that all the people of Tehran could hear the speech.”

Rouhani further said: “There are also some who are looking to make money—those same sanctions merchants, in reality. They may also be glad that the war and chaos continue. There are also people who may have certain ideas that we should go and take over the world and conquer it and, in their view, guide everyone.”

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