Former first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref urged the reformists to stand united to be able to win the majority of seats in the next parliament.
Speaking during the 13th congress of the pro-reform Democracy Party in Tehran on Thursday, Aref said, "For the reformists to come out as the winner of the (2016) election, they have no other option but to stand together and act in unison," IRNA reported. The veteran politician urged the reformists to field candidates for the parliamentary election under a single list.
Aref described the future legislative vote as "crucial", noting that victory in the parliamentary election could be a stepping stone toward the future success of reformist forces in the 2017 presidential election. He also touched on the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers and said, "Critics are looking for trivial issues to scuttle the process of talks."
Two former presidents Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami sent separate messages to the gathering.
