Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for a public referendum before continuing any prolonged conflict with the world's major powers. Rouhani emphasized the importance of consulting the Iranian people if the country is to remain in conflict for another two decades.
On Friday evening, September 4, 2026, Iranian websites published new footage of Rouhani's meeting with several governors and deputy governors, which took place on August 31, 2026. In this meeting, Rouhani stressed: "If the people approve continuing the war with the major powers, that is very good, and we shall proceed. But if they lead us to another path, should we not be open to accepting it?"
Rouhani asserted that every official in Iran holds their position as a trust from the people, without naming any specific person or official. He stated bluntly, "No one governs by themselves or through divine right. The people have voted directly or indirectly, and through their votes, authority has been entrusted to individuals at various levels."
The former president referenced Prophet Muhammad's practice of consultation, asking, "Shouldn't we be prepared to consult with our people, the ones who granted us this mandate?"
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have both recently stressed the importance of negotiation with Washington. On August 26, 2026, Pezeshkian called for an end to the conflict with the United States, asserting, "War is not always the solution, and issues that can be resolved by negotiation should not be settled by aggression."