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ElBaradei describes how Ahmadinejad, who had been persuaded to accept the fuel proposal by his atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi, had trouble selling the deal in back in Tehran.

Western leaders compounded the difficult situation for Ahmadinejad, ElBaradei writes. Ahmadinejad became especially annoyed by French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who he said was “impolite”. He was also “insulted” that Obama ignored his congratulatory message after winning the 2008 election.

Ahmadinejad later became “irate” after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Iran’s human rights record.