Photo of Iran opposition leader, wife shared despite ban Photo of Iran opposition leader, his wife held under house arrest since 2011 shared on social media despite ban

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A new photo of an Iranian opposition leader and his activist wife who have been held under house arrest for eight years is spreading on social media in the country.

Authorities have banned media from publishing their images after they were put under house arrest in 2011. Mousavi emerged as opposition leader during Iran's disputed 2009 presidential election.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, already under fire by hard-liners for his unraveling nuclear deal, faces criticism from reformists over failing to free the two as he had pledged during his election campaigns in 2013 and 2017.