Khatami's Brother Resigns from Iran’s Largest Reformist Party

Brother of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami has resigned from the biggest pro-reform party in the Islamic republic, reported the Iranian News Agency (IRNA), quoting a paper as saying Tuesday. 

The Iran daily quoted reformist MP Reza  

Yousefian as saying that Mohammad-Reza Khatami, has ceased to head the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF) which holds the majority in the parliament. 

Yousefian said that the IIPF held a session on Monday to appoint a new head, but the session was adjourned till next week, said the agency.  

Khatami was among several reformist MPs who were summoned in the past months by the judiciary. 

Report said that the parliament has been pushing for the immunity of its members amid reports the judiciary was preparing cases against Khatami and other MPs. 

With just four months to the presidential elections, the power struggle between reformers and conservatives seems to be heightening, with the judiciary and other conservative-led bodies closing newspapers, jailing journalists and blocking parliamentary legislation. 

President Khatami has been reluctant to say whether he will seek a second term in office in the June elections, despite recent calls by young people, parliament and the IIPF, which declared Khatami its official candidate last week – Albawaba.com