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Does Rouhani Hold 'Key' to Release Mousavi and Karroubi?

Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani said during his campaign that it may become possible to allow the release of those under house arrest and imprisoned after the 2009 presidential election.
A supporter holds up a picture of presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi during a rally in Tehran May 29, 2009. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN POLITICS ELECTIONS IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTXOXBN

There is much skepticism among President-elect Hassan Rouhani’s supporters about whether he will act, as he pledged during his presidential campaign, to free Reformist leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Zahra Rahnavard and Mehdi Karroubi, who have been under house arrest since 2011.

In a video released by Rouhani's campaign, in a May 13 question-and-answer session held with Sharif University of Technology students, he was questioned about his view on the house arrest of Mousavi and Karroubi. He responded, “I think it’s possible to bring about a condition, over the next year, in which not only those under house arrest but also those who have been imprisoned after the 2009 election would be released.”

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