As a way to remove the deceptions presented by the “totalitarians,” Karoubi said that a referendum and free demonstrations should be permitted. He said the government should allow opponents of the administration to hold a gathering in one of Tehran’s squares or a desert so that once and for all, the weight of the various tendencies in the country would be clarified without any pressure or threats.

“Based on the clear rights of the people as provided in article 27 of the constitution, I would like them to issue us the permit to gather in a square in Tehran so we can hold our demonstration so that the majority and minority are clarified. We will take the security of the event ourselves and will guarantee that the march will be held without any destructive slogans: a free march, once for all to clarify the leanings of society for good, without any pressure or threats,” Karoubi’s statement read.

Khatami’s statement on Sunday also said that the February 11 march had been hijacked by a group and criticized the treatment of people, including the continuation of political and media activist detentions.

The former president met with the families of imprisoned journalists and stressed, “protestors participated in this march in a peaceful manner”, adding, “This does not mean all those who cam to the gathering did so in support of a single group. Those who opposed the current policies and actions too came to the square and what they said was that the issue of the revolution and the regime was different from these groups and their policies. But it is unfortunate that we witnessed much insults towards many of them.”