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Iranian President Is Sworn In and Presents a New Cabinet of Familiar Faces Iranian President Is Sworn In and Presents a New Cabinet of Familiar Faces
(about 2 hours later)
TEHRAN — Hassan Rouhani was sworn in as Iran’s president during a ceremony in Parliament on Sunday, after which he presented a new cabinet dominated by technocrats who had previously served under a moderate former president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.TEHRAN — Hassan Rouhani was sworn in as Iran’s president during a ceremony in Parliament on Sunday, after which he presented a new cabinet dominated by technocrats who had previously served under a moderate former president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
The cabinet must still be confirmed by Parliament.The cabinet must still be confirmed by Parliament.
“My government will be one of foresight and hope,” Mr. Rouhani said in a speech after his swearing-in ceremony, adding that his election showed that the Iranian people want “to live free,” and “are longing for change and progress, they want relief from poverty and discrimination.”“My government will be one of foresight and hope,” Mr. Rouhani said in a speech after his swearing-in ceremony, adding that his election showed that the Iranian people want “to live free,” and “are longing for change and progress, they want relief from poverty and discrimination.”
He faces a mountain of problems, including rampant inflation, diminishing revenues and foreign reserves, possible food shortages and new United States sanctions over the country’s nuclear program.He faces a mountain of problems, including rampant inflation, diminishing revenues and foreign reserves, possible food shortages and new United States sanctions over the country’s nuclear program.
By choosing to stock his cabinet with old hands from the Rafsanjani years, Mr. Rouhani appeared to be looking to a more moderate past to solve current problems and plan for the future, analysts said. And he showed that the former president would wield considerable influence in the new government.By choosing to stock his cabinet with old hands from the Rafsanjani years, Mr. Rouhani appeared to be looking to a more moderate past to solve current problems and plan for the future, analysts said. And he showed that the former president would wield considerable influence in the new government.
“Most key ministers have served under Hashemi-Rafsanjani,” said Nader Karimi Joni, a political analyst who has been critical of Iran’s leaders. “This shows his clear involvement.”“Most key ministers have served under Hashemi-Rafsanjani,” said Nader Karimi Joni, a political analyst who has been critical of Iran’s leaders. “This shows his clear involvement.”
Mr. Rafsanjani, 78, wanted to run for a new term as president this year, but he was barred by the country’s Guardian Council, which said he was too old.Mr. Rafsanjani, 78, wanted to run for a new term as president this year, but he was barred by the country’s Guardian Council, which said he was too old.
During the ceremony on Sunday, he sat smiling next to the incoming president.During the ceremony on Sunday, he sat smiling next to the incoming president.
Among the Rafsanjani protégés is the proposed minister of oil, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, who is widely regarded as the modernizer of Iran’s oil industry, having invited in Western companies to help carry out the work. The incoming minister of housing, Abbas Akhondi, held the same position during Mr. Rafsanjani’s tenure, from 1989 to 1997.Among the Rafsanjani protégés is the proposed minister of oil, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, who is widely regarded as the modernizer of Iran’s oil industry, having invited in Western companies to help carry out the work. The incoming minister of housing, Abbas Akhondi, held the same position during Mr. Rafsanjani’s tenure, from 1989 to 1997.
The proposed head of the influential Ministry of Industries and Mines, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards who is now strictly opposed to involvement by that organization in the economy.The proposed head of the influential Ministry of Industries and Mines, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards who is now strictly opposed to involvement by that organization in the economy.
Mr. Rouhani’s choice for foreign minister, Javad Zarif, raised the most eyebrows. Mr. Zarif, 53, has lived half his life in the United States, is a fluent English speaker and served from 2002 to 2007 as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations. He was also part of Mr. Rouhani’s nuclear negotiating team, which in 2003 struck a deal with European nations to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment.Mr. Rouhani’s choice for foreign minister, Javad Zarif, raised the most eyebrows. Mr. Zarif, 53, has lived half his life in the United States, is a fluent English speaker and served from 2002 to 2007 as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations. He was also part of Mr. Rouhani’s nuclear negotiating team, which in 2003 struck a deal with European nations to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment.
“These appointments mean Mr. Rouhani’s cabinet is technocrat-dominated and geared towards changing domestic and international affairs, like what we saw during Mr. Rafsanjani’s time,” Mr. Nader Joni said. “These appointments mean Mr. Rouhani’s cabinet is technocrat-dominated and geared towards changing domestic and international affairs, like what we saw during Mr. Rafsanjani’s time,” Mr. Joni said.
Hinting that he was open to talks with the West, Mr. Rouhani emphasized that sanctions and even war would not change the minds of Iran’s leaders regarding the nuclear program.Hinting that he was open to talks with the West, Mr. Rouhani emphasized that sanctions and even war would not change the minds of Iran’s leaders regarding the nuclear program.
“To have interactions with Iran, there should be talks based on an equal position, building mutual trust and respect, and reducing enmity,” Mr. Rouhani said. Speaking to the West, he added, “I hereby say this explicitly, that if you expect a suitable response, you should talk to Iran with respect, not the language of sanctions.” His words prompted loud applause from members of Parliament and other officials.“To have interactions with Iran, there should be talks based on an equal position, building mutual trust and respect, and reducing enmity,” Mr. Rouhani said. Speaking to the West, he added, “I hereby say this explicitly, that if you expect a suitable response, you should talk to Iran with respect, not the language of sanctions.” His words prompted loud applause from members of Parliament and other officials.
Officials close to the new president are saying that they want to see a first-step gesture from the United States, noting that Mr. Rouhani’s landslide victory has given him a broad mandate to negotiate with the West.Officials close to the new president are saying that they want to see a first-step gesture from the United States, noting that Mr. Rouhani’s landslide victory has given him a broad mandate to negotiate with the West.
The White House released a statement on Sunday hailing the arrival of Mr. Rouhani, but it made no mention of concessions.The White House released a statement on Sunday hailing the arrival of Mr. Rouhani, but it made no mention of concessions.
“The inauguration of President Rouhani presents an opportunity for Iran to act quickly to resolve the international community’s deep concerns over Iran’s nuclear program,” the statement read. “Should this new government choose to engage substantively and seriously to meet its international obligations and find a peaceful solution to this issue, it will find a willing partner in the United States.”“The inauguration of President Rouhani presents an opportunity for Iran to act quickly to resolve the international community’s deep concerns over Iran’s nuclear program,” the statement read. “Should this new government choose to engage substantively and seriously to meet its international obligations and find a peaceful solution to this issue, it will find a willing partner in the United States.”