The leader of Iran's Green Movement Mir-Hossein Mousavi who has been under house arrest since 2011 called for a referendum on a constitutional assembly, arguing that the current political system ruling Iran does not represent all Iranian people.
“The bitter situation the country has faced is the result of a series of major mistakes,” Mousavi said in a statement published by reformist-leaning Iranian newspaper Hammihan.
“The twelve-day war (with Israel) showed that the only guarantee for the nation’s survival is respect for every citizen’s right to self-determination,” the former prime minister added.
“After the war that was waged against us, the people have expectations from the government. Leaving them unanswered only delights the enemy." Mousavi said the current structure of the Islamic Republic “does not represent all Iranians.”
The release of political prisoners and reforms to the state broadcaster’s approach, he added, were “the minimum expectations” of the public.
Mousavi was Iran’s prime minister from 1981 to 1989 before it switched to a presidential system.
Along with cleric Mehdi Karroubi, Mousavi was a candidate in the disputed 2009 presidential election and challenged the results, leading large protests dubbed the Green Movement for months before he was arrested and placed under house arrest.
His wife Zahra Rahnavard and Karroubi were also accused of sedition against the Islamic Republic and remain under house arrest.
