TEHRAN (Mehr News Agency) -- MP Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour said that students should be above factionalism, but added, "I am concerned about the influence of factions and political groups on students." Mohtashamipour, who represents Tehran and is the leader of the 2nd of Khordad Front in the Majlis, told the Mehr News Agency that students can make useful comments on all social issues and can influence all government decisions, saying, "Students' participation in different fields will only be effective under the umbrella of collective movements and student organizations, not individualistic movements."

He emphasized the independence of the student movement from other political groups and factions but added that the student movement was influenced by some political parties in the past. He went on to say that he considers the Office for the Consolidation of Unity (OCU) to be an active student movement group and added, "This student movement has always played an active role during various stages of the Islamic Revolution, at the time of its victory in 1979 and also during other national events like the eight-year Sacred Defense against Iraq and the epic of the 2nd of Khordad."

He stated that if the agents of political groups and factions had not interfered with the student movement, it would not have been weakened and the situation would be different today. Mohtashamipour expressed regret over the fact that some political groups have influenced the student movement in recent years and said, "These political groups did their best to influence all aspects of the student movement and succeeded."