Rouhani stresses moderation in all areas, including foreign policy

Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani has underlined the importance of “moderation” in all arenas, including foreign policy.

“Moderation in foreign policy means constructive interaction, not submission and confrontation,” Rouhani said a speech to the 32nd Media Horizon Conference in Tehran on Saturday.

He urged interaction and dialog with other countries on an equal footing, based on mutual respect and one another’s interests, based on the bilateral removal of tensions, and in order to build mutual trust.

“This will be done while paying heed to all rights of the Iranian nation and the entire national will, and with regards to national dignity… and with the support of the people and guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei], God willing,” the Iranian president-elect told the gathering, which brought together the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).”

He added that Iran is currently facing a “special situation,” which the country should go past.

Rouhani stated that moderation should strike a balance between realism and idealism with regard to the values and ideals of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

President-elect Rouhani won Iran’s presidential election of June 14, which was marked by a high voter turnout, winning 50.7 percent of a total of 36,704,156 ballots counted.

He currently represents Ayatollah Khamenei in the Supreme National Security Council and is also a member of the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts. He is also the director of the Expediency Council’s Center for Strategic Research.