Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Former Iranian vice-president, reformist politician Mohammad Reza Aref is considering founding a reformist political party, Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Feb. 11.
Aref went on to say that founding the party is under study, adding that "as soon as we have made the final decision, we will declare it."
Aref who is member of the Iran's Expediency Council said that he plans to publish a newspaper.
"We are waiting for Iranian culture ministry to issue the permission for publishing the newspaper," he added. He also underlined that the reformists are always present in Iranian political arena.
The people should make the decision on electing the reformists or other groups, he underscored.
Earlier on Feb. 5, Aref remarked that reformists and moderates should form a coalition for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran in 2016.
The reformist politician withdrew from the presidential race in favor of the moderate Hassan Rouhani, which resulted with Rouhani`s victory in the presidential elections in June 2013.
Aref who was first vice president for Mohammad Khatami from 2001 to 2005 underlined that due to a recession in political activities and weakening of some political parties and organizations in recent years, it is necessary that activities for the next parliamentary election start as soon as possible.