Khatami made the remarks during a gathering of members of the central councils of the Islamic associations of the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Thursday.    

 

Khatami also said that efforts should be made to develop a consensus among the reformists ahead of the 2013 presidential election. 

 

“My view is that a consensus should be developed among reformists,” he stated.  

 

The presidential election will be held in late spring next year. 

 

The former reformist president went on to say that “we should try to take steps forward and create changes albeit small.” 

 

In addition, he reiterated his previous position that efforts should be made to implement those articles of the Constitution, which have not been implemented yet.

 

He added, “We are committed to Islam and oppose secularism on the one hand and violence on the other hand.”

 

He also said that it is part of reformists’ principles to “defend” the rights of anyone who does not seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic system.