'Mousavi would overturn Iran politics'

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:15:35 GMT

A comeback by Mousavi may have an overwhelming effect on Iranian politics. He served as prime minister during a time of crisis -- the Iraq-imposed war on Iran.

Former Iranian prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi's candidacy would overturn Iran's political balance, an Iranian politician says.

Sources close to Mousavi have revealed that he would join the race if former president Mohammad Khatami refrains from running in the upcoming election.

A senior member of Kargozaran, a centrist party with Reformist views, told ILNA that it is 'very unlikely' that Mousavi would opt to return to the political arena.

Hedayat Aqayi, who sits on the Kargozaran head council, added that should Mousavi enter Iran's 10th presidential election, he would enjoy the support of both the Reformists and the Principlists.

Mousavi served for 8 years as the last Iranian prime minister until 1989 when a constitutional amendment divided the related responsibilities of a premier between the president and the first vice president and abolished the post of prime minister.

President Ahmadinejad is expected to seek a second term.

Iran's 10th presidential election is scheduled for June 12, 2009.

Khatami has recently said that he needs more time to evaluate the situation in the political arena before deciding whether to seek the presidency for a third time.

Should he decide to run for office, the former Iranian president will face Mehdi Karroubi, a member of Iran's National Confidence Party and the only person to have announced his candidacy in the upcoming presidential election.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also expected to run for re-election as the top candidate from the Principlist camp.