Weekly Report of the IRGC: The House Arrest is Due to the Issue of Overthrow

In its latest issue, the weekly Sobhe Sadegh, affiliated with the Political Bureau of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the main reason for the house arrest of Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and Mehdi Karroubi is not the protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election. The weekly stated that 'the sedition was a context in which the leaders of the sedition, with their reckless and hasty actions, which received moment-by-moment support from the enemies of the regime, quickly reached the stage of overthrowing the regime, and reaching this stage was the clear reason for their house arrest.' Following the controversial announcement of the 2009 presidential election results, widespread protests occurred, leading to the arrest of many political activists, students, and critical journalists in Iran, ultimately resulting in the house arrest of the leaders of the protests, namely Mousavi and Karroubi. Now, in its first issue of December, Sobhe Sadegh wrote in an article titled 'The Sedition Was the Context for House Arrest, Not Its Cause' that 'despite the costs of delaying action against Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi for the regime, there was leniency in dealing with them in the hope that they might come to their senses.' The article continues, 'However, the connection established between them and, as the author of this article puts it, the long-standing enemies of the regime blocked their way and prevented them from taking advantage of the opportunity that the regime had given them.' In the discourse of some conservative forces, 'sedition' refers to the protests following the 2009 election. The author further stated that after Mousavi and Karroubi entered the phase of overthrowing the regime in February 2010, the Supreme National Security Council decided to place them and their wives under house arrest. The weekly concluded that 'perhaps with these explanations, there are still stubborn individuals demanding the lifting of the house arrest, but they should know that from now on, any discussion of the obligation to lift the house arrest of the leaders of the sedition means support for the overthrowers.' Despite harsh criticisms from some hardline conservatives against Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, Ali Motahari, a conservative representative in the Iranian parliament, has repeatedly protested against the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 presidential election protests and called for a fair court to examine their charges. This is while Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has also been a defender of the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi. Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, the Minister of Justice, stated on Tuesday, December 25, that the National Security Council is the decision-making body regarding the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, and that the government and judiciary cannot pursue this issue alone. The Minister of Justice also noted that he has no special responsibility regarding the house arrest and that this issue has not been raised in the government to the extent that we would want to express an opinion as a government. In this context, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, on December 16, in response to student chants during Student Day ceremonies for lifting the house arrest of the leaders of the 2009 presidential election protests, said, 'Our path and our course is the same as we promised you from the very beginning. Our covenant with you is unbreakable.' During Rouhani's speech at Iran University of Medical Sciences, a number of students chanted, 'Our message is clear: the house arrest must be lifted,' demanding the lifting of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard. Previously, Fatemeh Karroubi, the wife of Mehdi Karroubi, stated on October 23 that 'apparently, the house arrest and illegal imprisonments are not a priority for the friends in the government.' In this regard, criticisms against the continuation of the house arrest have also reached the 'justice' of the leader. Students during Rouhani's speech chanted: 'The house arrest must be lifted.' A letter from seven former parliament representatives regarding the continuation of the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi. The Minister of Justice stated that the government and judiciary cannot make decisions regarding the house arrest. Changes in the battlefield of 'proxy forces'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of opponents and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Two weeks after a complete blackout, the time for reconnecting the internet in Iran is still 'uncertain.' The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' Trump says if the Islamic Republic assassinates him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.' A senior US official: The Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh. The Islamic Republic announced the number of casualties from the protests in December as 'three thousand and 117 people.'