Reports from inside Iran indicate that the regime in Iran has decided to officially arrest both opposition leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi.
Just last week, security forces cordoned off the residence of Mousavi and Karoubi and entered their homes. No one can contact either man or their wives. Their food is being provided by the Iranian security forces. They are virtual prisoners in their own homes.
Today a large number of military and security forces were deployed across Tehran. Based on other reports, the head of the intelligence ministry is set to speak on the State TV regarding the recent protests and the opposition leaders. In recent weeks, the officials of the Islamic Republic have been calling for the arrest and the prosecution of the opposition leaders for inciting unrest against the Islamic government of Iran; many have gone further demanding the execution of Mousavi and Kahroubi.
The reports indicate that the deployment of such forces and their heavy presence in Tehran is due to the leadership’s decision to arrest the opposition leaders and fully suppress the movement before it gets out of hand, as has happened elsewhere in the Middle East.
Mir Hossein Mousavi served as the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 1989 and was commended for his work by Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomenei. Mousavi ran for the presidency in 2009. The official results showed Ahmadinejad winning by a landslide, though Mousavi and many others believe the results were fraudulent. He is currently the leader of the Green Movement.
Mehdi Karoubi served as the chair of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament from 1989 to 1992 and 2000 to 2004, and a presidential candidate in the 2005 and 2009 presidential elections. He is considered a moderate and one of the leaders of the opposition movement in Iran.