TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state prosecutor says he has denied permission to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit an imprisoned advisor, a further sign of the Iranian president’s rapidly waning influence.

Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi is quoted by the press as saying that Ahmadinejad’s request to visit Evin prison is suspected to be politically motivated.

Ahmadinejad demanded to visit Evin after his top press advisor Ali Akbar Javanfekr was jailed last month after being convicted of publishing material deemed insulting to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Ahmadinejad once had the backing of Iran’s clerical establishment but lost it when he was perceived to challenge Khamenei last year.

Ejehi said the president would do better to work on Iran’s deepening economic problems that to visit Evin.

His remarks were published in several Iranian newspapers Monday.