Request for Lifting House Arrest in Meeting Between Montajabnia, Rahami, and Ali Khamenei

Rasoul Montajabnia, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trust Party, stated that he and Mohsen Rahami, a member of the Supreme Policy Council of Reformists, had a "significant" and "detailed" meeting with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, Saham News reported that they discussed the issue of lifting the house arrest of Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard during this meeting. Rasoul Montajabnia wrote on his Facebook page: "This important and detailed meeting of mine and Dr. Rahami with the Supreme Leader was held sincerely with the focus on expressing the views of the reformists ahead of the elections." Montajabnia further stated that a "detailed explanation" of this meeting would be provided on Saturday. Saham News, a website close to Mehdi Karroubi, noted that the meeting lasted for an hour, during which Montajabnia presented a report on the political and social status of reformists in society and their loyalty to the system and the country to the Supreme Leader. Saham News added that during the meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trust Party emphasized the necessity of having a communication channel between reformists and the leadership and spoke about the presence of both reformist and principlist factions in the administration of the country. According to the report, Montajabnia also mentioned the need to lift the house arrest of Karroubi, Mousavi, and Rahnavard, stating that lifting the house arrest would lead to unity, stability, and peace in society, ultimately safeguarding it from internal and external threats. Saham News reported that Ali Khamenei confirmed Montajabnia's statements, expressing a desire for both principlists and reformists to be present in politics and work for its dignity. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election, along with Zahra Rahnavard, Mousavi's wife, have been under house arrest since February 2011. Meanwhile, no court has been established to address the charges against Mousavi, Rahnavard, and Karroubi. However, Mehdi Karroubi has repeatedly called for a public trial, but this request has gone unanswered. Previously, Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who has emphasized the illegality of the house arrest of the protest leaders in recent years, reported that the Supreme Leader is the main opponent of lifting the house arrest or trying them. In this context, Karroubi's son was sentenced to prison for publishing his father's letter "due to a complaint from the Ministry of Intelligence." Ayatollah Dastgheib advised reformists to "demand" the lifting of the house arrest. Fatemeh Karroubi stated that despite the term house arrest, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence continue to be present in their home. Motahari called for the issue of house arrest to be placed on the agenda of the Assembly of Experts and stated that he is still seeking to meet with the detainees.