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The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) discussed the potential role of reformists in the coming elections in an interview yesterday.

The daily newspaper Ebtekar quoted Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jaffari, saying: "Those reformists who have not crossed red lines can obviously participate in political races. As for how successful [former Iranian president Mohammad] Khatami could be, that depends on his political stance."

The IRGC commander added: "In the course of sedition, Khatami did not pass the test with flying colours, as he was, after all, a collaborator with the leaders of the sedition. He supported them and so far he has not yet purged himself from that movement."

The Islamic Republic establishment refers to protests that took shape in 2009 after the disputed reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as "sedition." MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two Ahmadinejad opponents in the presidential race who are currently under house arrest, are referred to as "leaders of sedition."