Mohammad Khatami: A Supportive Parliament Can Help Rouhani Resolve House Arrest Issues

Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, stated on Tuesday that the issue of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard is not within the "authorities" of President Hassan Rouhani's government, but a "supportive" parliament can assist him in resolving these matters. According to Khatami's official website, during a meeting with student organizations from across the country and in response to a question regarding the 11th government's efforts to lift the house arrest of Mousavi, Karroubi, and Rahnavard, he said: "The issue of house arrest is not within Mr. Rouhani's authority. If other institutions are aligned, it can be resolved through understanding with the leadership and his opinion." Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, have been under house arrest without trial since February 2011. Khatami added: "However, some factions and other institutions think and act differently and even called for the death of both the detained individuals and those who are not detained." Khatami emphasized: "A parliament that is aligned with the president can help him resolve these issues well." He further stated: "The country has many problems, and the government alone cannot solve them. Fortunately, there is a determination to solve the problems. Good work has been done, and God willing, in a spirit of harmony and cooperation, we can have more hope for the future." While Khatami emphasized the role of a "supportive" parliament with Hassan Rouhani for understanding with the leader of Iran regarding the house arrest of Mousavi, Karroubi, and Rahnavard, it has previously been acknowledged by officials of the 11th government that the issue of house arrest is not within the president's control. Meanwhile, in a letter to the Iranian president earlier this year, Mehdi Karroubi emphasized that he does not see the lifting of house arrest as "within his control" and requested that Hassan Rouhani ask the "tyrannical regime" to put him on trial in a "public court" to clarify who the "ungrateful" is. Karroubi's reference to "ungrateful" in this letter alludes to a recent speech by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who labeled the protesters against the 2009 election results, specifically the leaders of the Green Movement, as "ungrateful." Lifting the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement, namely Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is under house arrest with his wife Zahra Rahnavard, was one of Hassan Rouhani's key electoral promises, which has yet to be fulfilled two and a half years after his election.