Statements from a Reformist Figure Regarding the 'Lifting of House Arrest by the End of 2017'

A government official from Hassan Rouhani's administration announced, without providing details, that based on an 'agreement' between Mr. Rouhani and other institutions of the Islamic Republic, it has been decided that by the end of 2017, the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement will 'gradually be reduced or lifted.' Ashraf Boroujerdi, head of the National Library, stated in an interview with ILNA news agency on Friday, November 10, that 'these specific discussions must reach a conclusion through negotiations that Mr. Rouhani has initiated.' This reformist figure added, 'An agreement has been made that by the end of 2017, the scope of the house arrest will gradually be reduced or lifted.' Ms. Boroujerdi, who was also the Deputy Minister of Interior for Social Affairs during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, did not provide further details about what this 'agreement' for lifting the house arrest of the leaders of the movement entails. Previously, some officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Motahari and Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, have stated that lifting the house arrest is only possible with the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Ms. Boroujerdi's remarks may also relate to negotiations between Hassan Rouhani and Ayatollah Khamenei. In recent weeks, reports have emerged regarding 'new conditions' for the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi. Hossein Karroubi, the son of Mehdi Karroubi, announced on October 19 that the Supreme National Security Council had 'approved' that some individuals could meet with his father, based on which, Ismail Doosti, a member of the National Trust Party, met with his father. Subsequently, Mohammad Taghi Karroubi, another son of Mehdi Karroubi, reported that Ismail Doosti met with his father for the second time in recent months on November 1, and no one else was taken to the house arrest location. Hossein Karroubi also stated on November 8 that the openings that had been made for his father had not occurred for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard. Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, stated on November 1 that the leaders of the protesters against the results of the 2009 presidential election 'are not under house arrest and can meet anyone they wish.' Hours after these remarks, the children of Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Zahra Rahnavard announced that they are still under house arrest. Following these statements, the only change in the status of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard was a visit by two of Mir Hossein Mousavi's sisters on Friday, November 3. Members of the Committee for Lifting House Arrest from the Hope Faction of Parliament met with the head of the judiciary on Tuesday, November 7. Gholamreza Heydari, a member of this committee, described the meeting as 'good and hopeful regarding the reduction of restrictions for those under house arrest.' However, Ardeshir Amir Arjamand, spokesman for the Coordination Council of the Green Path of Hope, stated in an interview with Radio Farda that he sees no signs of lifting the house arrest of the Green Movement leaders. He expressed hope for lifting the house arrest, saying, 'Even those who caused this situation now have an interest in ending this house arrest as soon as possible.' Lifting the house arrest has been one of the main demands of Hassan Rouhani's supporters in both presidential elections in 2013 and 2017, and he made promises regarding lifting the house arrest, either explicitly or implicitly, in both elections. Meanwhile, during the four years of Mr. Rouhani's first administration, not only was no practical action taken to fulfill this promise, but during his second term, restrictions against Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, have also increased.