Iran new president targets moderate approach

Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani has been publicly inaugurated into office on Sunday, a day after he was formally endorsed by the country’s Supreme Spiritual Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. The first round of the inauguration took place in the Sa'adabad Palace, the official presidential residence, in a private ceremony attended by senior Iranian officials, foreign dignitaries and the outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani received his presidential precepts from Ahmadinejad on Saturday, at the Imam Khomeini Hosseinieh, Tehran, to become the seventh president of Iran.  His Vice-President, Eshaq Jahangiri will replace Mohammad Reza Rahimi. On Sunday, President Rouhani took the oath of office in a public ceremony, in the presence of Sadeq Larijani, head of the judicial system of Iran.     Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani welcomed the new government and guests in a 30-minute speech. Rouhani created speculation around his politically moderate views when he denounced the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land as an "old wound on the body of the Islamic world." His remarks were made during the annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day ceremony in Tehran, which expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposes Zionism, as well Israel’s control of Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said the comments did not differ from those of former hard-line president, Ahmadinejad  who previously threatened Israel to "wipe it off the map."    "The true face of Rouhani has been revealed sooner than expected. Even if they hurry to deny his words - this is what the man thinks and this is the Iranian regime's plan of action," Netanyahu said in a statement. The president will take the office of head of state, however it is the supreme spiritual leader who has overall say over foreign policy and matters concerning security. During his presidential campaign, Rouhani pledged to improve Iran’s economic problems weakened by years of economic sanctions by western nations over its speculated nuclear programme, which the government says is purely for domestic purposes. Western countries including Israel accuse Iran of developing a nuclear bomb. The relatively moderate cleric won the presidential elections in June 2013 by a significant majority, capturing four million votes desperately seeking improvements to the country’s economic problems. Rouhani’s moderate views are seen as an optimistic approach for the country, which is seeking to rebuild ties with its former business partners.