The Washington Post –  A report quotes Iran’s former president as predicting pro-reform figures will run in the next election. The report by the semiofficial Mehr news agency Monday quoted Mohammad Khatami as saying reformists will not boycott the March 2012 parliamentary elections. Khatami has emerged as a leader of the reform movement.

Over the past months, many reformists leaders have said they will not run, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with the results of the 2009 election, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected president. Many opposition figures charged the election was rigged.

Since then the establishment has cracked down on the opposition, which responded by boycotting the political system. It was not clear whether Khatami’s remarks indicated a shift in that position or a split in the ranks.