Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took the oath of office before parliament in Tehran on Saturday (August 5) in the presence of dignitaries including European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
Rouhani, who was decisively re-elected in May after promising to open Iran to the world and create more jobs, has accused the United States of trying to undermine Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers and urged European countries not to side with Washington.
In a meeting with Mogherini earlier on Saturday in Tehran, Rouhani said the presence of senior European dignitaries at his swearing-in ceremony showed that Europe was determined to expand ties with Tehran despite U.S. pressures.
Rouhani has intensified efforts to protect the nuclear deal – the biggest achievement of his first term – against Washington’s return to an aggressive Iran policy since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
