Iran's Organized Reformers.(The Last Word: MEHDI KARRUBI)(Interview)(Excerpt)

Byline: Maziar Bahari

Mehdi Karrubi is the Al Gore of Iran. According to him, but for vote-rigging he would have been the president and not Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The cleric is leader of the National Trust Party, founded after his 2005 defeat, and was a speaker of Iran's Parliament, or Majlis. Even though he is a reformist, he believes that President Mohammad Khatami allowed radicalism to tank the reform movement. In his first interview with the western media, Karrubi, 69, talked with NEWSWEEK'S Maziar Bahari about this week's Majlis elections. Excerpts:

BAHARI: A few days ago the headline of your party's newspaper was KARRUBI IS WORRIED. Why were you worried?

KARRUBI: A large number of very good people who could be Majlis candidates were disqualified [by the Council of Guardians and the Ministry of Interior]. Nonetheless, we have lobbied high-ranking officials and different parts of the government and the situation has improved.

So you are not worried anymore?

I'm worried but less so.

When the Guardians can veto bills, what gain is even a powerful Majlis minority?