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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to take oath of office Iranian President Hassan Rouhani takes oath of office
(about 2 hours later)
The inauguration of Iranian cleric Hassan Rouhani as president is due to take place in parliament. Iran's parliament has inaugurated Hassan Rouhani as president, who promised a government of "wisdom and hope" representing all Iranians.
Mr Rouhani, elected in June, will be sworn in before MPs and representatives of more than 50 countries, according to Iranian media. In his speech, Mr Rouhani promised moderation based on tolerance, but was critical of international sanctions.
Mr Rouhani was formally endorsed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony on Saturday. "If you want an adequate response, you shouldn't speak the language of sanctions, you should speak the language of respect," he said.
The new president has promised reform and an end to Iran's international isolation. He formally took over from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a ceremony on Saturday.
It is thought likely he will present a list of ministers, which parliament will then have to approve. The president won a surprise victory in June's election, gaining support from reformists by hinting at a more moderate stance than his predecessor.
There is speculation that former Tehran ambassador to the UN Mohammad Javad Zarif, who like Mr Rouhani has negotiated with the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, could be named foreign minister. After being sworn in, he told parliament: "All of those who voted, whether they voted for me, someone else, or even if they didn't vote, all of them are Iranian citizens and have citizenship rights."
Mr Zarif is seen as a moderate. He said the people had voted "yes" to moderation and hope. He promised to advance women's rights and freedoms and to reduce the government's interference in people's lives.
Eleven presidents will be among those watching as Mr Rouhani takes the oath of office in parliament, the Majlis, according to state news agency Irna. He also said he would work to turn around the ailing economy, with inflation currently running at about 40%.
'Age-old ties' The BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds says his speech was about reaching out to groups both inside and outside of Iran.
Among those attending is senior North Korean official Kim Yong-nam, who had talks with Mr Rouhani on Saturday. Our correspondent says the speech was a series of promises that he now has to fulfil, but Iranians have been disappointed at the performance of their presidents in recent years.
Iran and North Korea have close ties and both face opposition to their nuclear programmes from the West, though Iran has always maintained its research is for peaceful purposes only. And although he is president, the final say on policy issues still resides with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
After the talks, Mr Rouhani "referred to the age-old, good and expanding ties between the two countries", Iran's Fars news agency reports. North Korea ties
The former nuclear negotiator presented a list of ministers for approval by parliament.
He chose former UN envoy Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is seen as a moderate, as foreign minister.
Mr Zarif has also negotiated with the West over Iran's nuclear programme.
State news agency Irna reported that 11 foreign presidents were among those watching as Mr Rouhani took the oath of office in parliament, the Majlis.
Among the foreign dignitaries attending was senior North Korean official Kim Yong-nam, who held talks with Mr Rouhani on Saturday.
Iran and North Korea have close ties and both face opposition to their nuclear programmes from the West.
However, North Korea has issues open threats to wage nuclear war, whereas Iran has always maintained its research is for peaceful purposes only.
After the talks, Mr Rouhani "referred to the age-old, good and expanding ties between the two countries", according to Iran's Fars news agency.
Mr Rouhani, 64, used to be Iran's chief negotiator on nuclear issues and has held discussions in the past with former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is also in Tehran for the swearing-in.Mr Rouhani, 64, used to be Iran's chief negotiator on nuclear issues and has held discussions in the past with former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is also in Tehran for the swearing-in.
Looking forward to the ceremony on his Twitter feed, Mr Solana said he had known Mr Rouhani since 2000 and advocated keeping "channels open". Mr Solana said on his twitter feed that he had known Mr Rouhani since 2000, adding: "It's good to have channels open."
Mr Rouhani officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president when he was publicly backed by the supreme leader at Saturday's ceremony. One of the leaders unable to attend was Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
''I have assumed this responsibility with the support of those people who want change, who want a better life, away from corruption, poverty and discrimination, people who want more respect and dignity, and hope in a secure future," Mr Rouhani said at the ceremony. The AFP news agency reported that Saudi Arabia refused to allow a plane carrying Mr Bashir to enter its territory, forcing it turn back to Khartoum.
He is also backed by Iran's reform movement, which wants the new president to release political prisoners and have international sanctions, imposed because of the nuclear programme, lifted.
However, though he is president, the final say on policy issues still resides with the supreme leader.