**Iranian opposition figure Mehdi Karroubi says he remains defiant despite threats, and that he and his family are “prepared for any disaster”.**In a letter on his party’s website, he also accused authorities of suppressing people in the name of religion.
Mr Karroubi said he survived an attack last week when a car he was in was fired on in the city of Qazvin.
Mr Karroubi stood in June’s disputed presidential elections, which led to a series of protests and crackdowns.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed victory in the vote, but opposition leaders said the election was rigged.
Mr Karroubi said in his letter that he remained “firm in the path that I have chosen”.
“I have not faltered on my way in the face of increasing intimidation and threats,” he said.
“I have become more determined, and prepared myself and my children for any disaster.”
‘Political robbery’
The Iranian protest movement has developed into the biggest challenge to the government since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens killed.
Mr Karroubi and others have faced increasing pressure from the authorities, with some hardliners labelling them as “mohareb” - enemies of God who can be sentenced to death under Iran’s Sharia law.
“May God stand witness how they have turned a political dispute into a religious war to suppress people demanding political rights in the name of religion,” Mr Karroubi said.
“We were not aware that reclaiming your vote and protesting against political robbery is equal to being corrupt on earth and mohareb in these gentlemen’s eyes.”
Mr Karroubi said last week that his armoured car had been fired on in Qazvin, where he had been attending a mourning ceremony for opposition supporters killed in protests.
Mr Karroubi has become one of the leading figures of the opposition reformist movement, along with another defeated candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Mr Mousavi said earlier this month that he was not afraid to die for the cause of reform.
A nephew of Mr Mousavi was among anti-government protesters killed during a crackdown by authorities in late December.