Former Iranian President Proposes 'End-of-War Referendum'... "The War Must End Honorably"

[Financial News] Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani proposed a referendum on whether to end the war, urging that the war should end if the majority of the people want it.
According to The Daily Telegraph, a British daily newspaper, on the 8th, former President Hassan Rouhani said at a recent event, "It is most important that we first clearly define the framework of national goals and present it to the people," adding, "If the people accept it, we will willingly continue the war, but if not, is there any reason why we should not accept it?"
Although he did not directly use the word "referendum," local Iranian media interpreted this as a call for a de facto referendum vote.
Former President Hassan Rouhani also pointed out, "To repair the damage caused by the war and give hope to young people and investors, we must end the war honorably in accordance with the will of the majority of the people," adding, "The tiny minority currently holding the microphone and causing a commotion does not represent the sentiment of the Iranian people as a whole."
During his tenure as president from 2013 to 2021, he played a major role in concluding the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). As one of the politicians representing Iran's moderate pragmatists, he became a target of hardliners in Iran when the nuclear deal was effectively scrapped in 2018 following U.S. President Donald Trump's unilateral withdrawal.
Regarding this remark, Iran's hardline Fars News Agency criticized it, stating, "It is not a remark made out of mere ignorance; he knows exactly what he is saying," and calling it "a dangerous remark that can never be overlooked."
Under the Iranian Constitution, referendums on very important legislation, major national affairs, and constitutional amendments may be held with the approval of the parliament and the Supreme Leader. Two referendums were held in 1979 during the process of establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately after the Islamic Revolution, and another was held in 1989 on constitutional amendments concerning adjustments to the powers of the Supreme Leader.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Specialist Reporter