On March 6, at his first press conference since the Feb. 26 Assembly of Experts and parliamentary elections, President Hassan Rouhani thanked all the people who called on Iranians to vote. One of the most effective calls to vote was by former President Mohammad Khatami, who had made a video message asking Iranians to vote for the Reformist list. His “I repeat” moment in the video was by far the most viral and popular meme on social media and social messaging services ahead of the elections.
Given Rouhani’s acknowledgement of those who asked Iranians to vote, an Iranian journalist with Reformist Shargh Daily asked about the media ban on Khatami, who has been accused by some officials as being one of the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement protests.