Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has claimed that the U.K. enjoys a degree of “influence” over Iranian judicial decisions.

Axar.az reports citing IRNA.

Iran’s Dolatebahar website, which is known to be close to Ahmadinejad, published the former president’s assertions on Monday.

Ahmadinejad also said one of his top aides, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, had been detained after criticizing the British government.

Referring to a visit to Tehran last December by U.K. Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, Ahmadinejad said: “Let them publish the text of Johnson’s talks with Iranian officials… and hold public investigations in this regard.”

Last December, Hamid Baghaei, who served as vice-president during Ahmadinejad’s two terms in office (2005-2013), was slapped with 63 years in jail after being convicted of corruption.

Shortly before his own detention, Mashaei had taken part in a demonstration outside the U.K. embassy in Tehran during which he described Baghaei’s incarceration as part of a “British conspiracy”.