The newly appointed 45-year-old has selected a large preliminary roster of 41 players ahead of their vital 2010 World Cup qualifier in North Korea on June 6.
Big names such as Ali Karimi, Ferydoon Zandi, Andranik Teymourian and Javad Kazemian have been recalled by the former Persepolis coach.
It remains to be seen who makes the final cut when the roster is reduced almost in half before the Pyongyang clash.
With Iran struggling in the group with six points from five games, the North Korea qualifier is vital and Ghotbi is looking for players with the mental strength to handle the situation.
"What we need right now is to transfer positive energy to both players and fans. It is more a matter of heart and willingness, and the next matches must therefore be won first outside and then inside the field," Ghotbi told Khabar Khabar news network.
Iran squad:
Goalkeepers: Seyed Mehdi Rahmati, Vahid Talebloo, Mohammad Mohammadi
Defenders: Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Hossein Kaebi, Hadi Aghili, Mohsen Bengar, Hassan Ashjari, Mohammad Nosrati, Sattar Zare, Rahman Rezaei, Pirouz Ghorbani, Khosro Heydari, Pejman Montazeri, Ahmad Alenemeh, Farshid Talebi
Midfielders: Ferydoon Zandi, Andranik Teymourian, Hossein Kazemi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Farzad Ashoubi, Javad Nekounam, Masoud Shojaei, Karim Bagheri, Ali Karimi, Mehrzad Madanchi, Maziar Zare, Ehsan Hajsafi, Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari, Meysam Baoo, Iman Mobali, Pejman Nouri, Alireza Mohammad, Mohammad Salsali
Strikers: Arash Borhani, Vahid Hashemian, Mohsen Khalili, Gholamreza Rezaei, Javad Kazemian, Ali Samereh, Siavash Akbarpour