Mehdi Karroubi Iranian statesman Date of Birth: 26.09.1937 Country: Iran

1. Mehdi Karroubi: A Prominent Iranian Politician
2. Early Career and Political Involvement
3. Presidential Candidacy and Election Allegations
4. House Arrest and Support
5. Later Career

Mehdi Karroubi: A Prominent Iranian Politician

Mehdi Karroubi is an Iranian politician who has held significant positions in the Iranian government, including the chairmanship of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (1989-1992 and 2000-2004).

Early Career and Political Involvement

Karroubi is a Lur by ethnicity. Prior to his chairmanship of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, he served as a member of the Assembly of Experts and as a personal advisor to the Supreme Leader.

Presidential Candidacy and Election Allegations

In 2005, Karroubi ran for the presidency as part of the reformist coalition led by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. He lost the election to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but the following day, he accused Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, of manipulating the vote count and pressuring electoral bodies.

Ayatollah Khamenei sent Karroubi an open letter, dismissing his allegations as baseless and warning him not to provoke a political crisis. In response, Karroubi resigned from the Assembly of Experts and his advisory role to Khamenei.

House Arrest and Support

On the night of June 20, 2005, Karroubi was placed under house arrest. He was supported by Ali Rafsanjani, a prominent critic of Ahmadinejad. Karroubi's house arrest lasted for several years, during which time he continued to voice his opposition to the government.

Later Career

Karroubi was released from house arrest in 2012. He has remained a vocal critic of the Iranian government, particularly its policies on human rights and nuclear development. In recent years, he has been involved in discussions on the possibility of political reform in Iran.