Iran pins hope for changes on new president
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E-mail Xinhua, June 16, 2013
What changes to expcet?
Although the president-elect hopes to improve relations with Western countries to ease pressure on Iran's economy, the country' s firm stance on its peaceful nuclear rights and nuclear enrichment prevents the West from easing their sanctions.
Iran's principle on its rights will not change. The country will remain firm on its support on Syria and Rouhani himself considers Israel an apartheid country, said Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a research fellow at the Institute of North American and European Studies, Tehran University.
However, the change of presidency gives new opportunities for many countries, including the Western countries, to reset their policies on relations with Iran, he added.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on the country's key policies such as relations with major world powers and the nuclear issue.
Rouhani has to work under the guidelines of the country's set policies, but he can still play a role in the country's nuclear talks with the P5+1 group, including five permanent members of the UN security council and Germany, said Zibakalam, adding that Rouhani will also work out a series of measures to promote domestic economic growth.
He said Rouhani tends to find a solution or compromise in talks with the P5+1 group on the nuclear issue, and insists that Iran have its peaceful nuclear program but not at the cost of worsening ties with the Western countries.
"Rouhani does not look at the nuclear issue as an ideological battle between the Islamic Republic and the West at all," Zibakalam said.
"Of course, people should not expect sudden changes to the country, but some of the current policies will not continue. Changes will definitely come gradually," he added.
