Mehdi Karroubi (right) with fellow Green Movement leader Mir Hossein Mousavi before their house arrests in February 2011

Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly approved the release of former Parliament Speaker and 2009 Presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi from strict house arrest after 13 1/2 years.

However, sources say Ayatollah Khamenei has rejected the request of President Masoud Pezeshkian that Mir Hossein Mousavi be freed as well.

Mousavi, the head of the Green Movement, likely led the first round of voting in the disputed 2009 election. Iranian authorities intervened to declare incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the victor with “63%” of the vote. Despite protests on the streets by more than a million Iranians, the Supreme Leader endorsed the declaration six days later.

The protests persisted for months until they were repressed by mass detentions, cutoff of communications, intimidation, and the killing of scores of demonstrators. In February 2011, fearful of renewed rallies, security forces detained Mousavi; his wife, activist, artist, and academic Zahra Rahnavard; Karroubi; and his wife Fatemeh in their homes.

Fatemeh Karroubi was released several months later but the other three have not been free to move.

The sources did not tell Middle East Eye when Karroubi, 86, would be released. Through his son Hossein, the former Parliament Speaker said:

Mir Hossein and I were both arrested at the same time, and if one day the detention is lifted, it must be lifted for both. I hope this will be done soon, but together.

Karroubi has been allowed to meet people and visit some homes with the approval of security forces over the past four years. Amid historic low turnouts in Presidential and Parliamentary elections, he has participated in the votes.

In contrast, Mousavi has refused to vote and called for Constitutional change. He has declined to meet people after receiving security clearance.