Mohammad Khatami: It is unlikely that people will come to the polls in the next elections based on our words

Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, warned about the failure of reforms in the Islamic Republic during a meeting with members of the Hope faction in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. He stated that it is now difficult to invite people to participate in the upcoming elections. Khatami described the country's conditions as 'despairing' and emphasized that the Islamic Republic 'must be reformable and flexible.' Khatami played a significant role in the victory of current President Hassan Rouhani in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections and the election of several reformists to the parliament. However, he acknowledged that these victories did not lead to 'real reforms.' He mentioned that he is faced with the question from the public about what real reforms have been achieved since they were encouraged to vote. He questioned whether the judiciary has improved or whether a healthy private sector can participate in the economy. He referred to the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA as a 'great achievement' that led to the lifting of UN sanctions, but noted that it was canceled by US President Donald Trump earlier this year. Khatami expressed skepticism about whether people would come to the polls in the next elections unless there is a significant change in the coming year. He also accused some 'internal currents' of attempting to create and increase despair in society, warning that the loss of reformists' support would not benefit rival reformist factions but would instead bolster the opposition. Iran witnessed widespread protests last December, initially aimed at the economic policies of Rouhani's government, which quickly shifted to target the entire Islamic Republic. Despite calls from many officials, including Rouhani, for the voices of the people to be heard, many detainees from those protests have faced long prison sentences and lashes, and the political and economic situation in Iran has worsened. Khatami himself has been banned from speaking and appearing in Iranian media for years, and security forces have even prevented him from attending certain events, such as weddings.