Iranian president calls for respect

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s new president, Hasan Rouhani, said Sunday that his nation would not be intimidated by threats and demanded “respect” from the global community.

“If you want the right response, it should not be through the language of sanctions, it should be through the language of discourse and respect,” Rouhani said in a pointed message to outside nations during his official swearing-in at the parliament here. “Iran does not pursue war.”

Rouhani, 64, a moderate cleric who was a surprise victor in June’s elections, officially assumed office Saturday but took the formal oath of office Sunday for his four-year term. The swearing-in took place in the hall of parliament, before lawmakers, government insiders and foreign dignitaries.

The president’s tone was conciliatory, but he stressed that Iran sought “dialogue,” not sanctions and “antagonism” from global powers.

“The people want to live better, to feel dignified and to enjoy benefits from a stable life,” said Rouhani, who vowed to “restore hope” to fellow citizens.

As Rouhani took office, the White House put out a statement Sunday congratulating the Iranian people “for making their voices heard during Iran’s election.”

Rouhani’s inauguration, the White House said, “represents an opportunity for Iran to act quickly to resolve the international community’s deep concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.” The Obama administration is still committed to a “peaceful” settlement if Tehran is willing to meet its “obligations,” the White House said.

However, even before Rouhani assumed office, the U.S. Congress moved to tighten economic sanctions with an eye toward cutting off much of Iran’s trade in oil, its principal export. U.S.-led sanctions against Iran are already viewed as some of the harshest ever imposed and have contributed to Iran’s economic tailspin. The nation suffers from high unemployment and rising inflation, causing considerable despair, especially among highly educated young people who face reduced opportunities.

Since his election, Rouhani has said that the economic outlook is much more dire than he had believed. The new president has pledged to work to remove the “brutal” sanctions regime.

The U.S.-led sanctions are tied to Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which Tehran says is strictly for peaceful purposes. U.S. officials suspect Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability.