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Foroutan of IOTM said the organization supported the campaign for a referendum, but felt it would be pointless if held before a change of government.

He noted that the Guardians' Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were empowered to reject any legislation or election or referendum result if they deem it to be contrary to Islamic law.

Foroutan said the referendum could be used by the regime to prolong its life, arguing that Tehran had in a similar tactic installed "moderate" President Mohammed Khatami in 1997 in a bid to manage "unrest within the Iranian community." In 2001, Khatami was handed a second term, which ends this year.

"A constitutional referendum, while the Islamic Republic is still intact, will only extend the regime's life, and enable them to continue toying with the international community as they have in the past two elections and [with] their current nuclear program agenda."

Foroutan urged Washington to continue its policy of isolating Iran, and not give in to calls to re-establish diplomatic ties severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

He said Bush should also take a firm stand against the European Union, which he claimed was prolonging the regime's life through its economic engagement with Iran.

"The fall of the Islamic regime is just a matter of time," Foroutan said. "This regime has been cornered internationally and internally and is on its last breath."

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