Historical Figure
Hassan Rouhani
b. 1948
President of Iran from 2013 to 2021
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Biography
Hassan Rouhani is an Iranian politician who served as the seventh president of Iran from 2013 to 2021. He is also a sharia lawyer ("Wakil"), academic, former diplomat and Islamic cleric. He served as a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts from 1999 to 2024. He was a member of the Expediency Council from 1991 to 2013, and also was a member of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2021. Rouhani was deputy speaker of the fourth and fifth terms of the Parliament of Iran (Majlis) and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005. In the latter capacity, he was the country's top negotiator with the EU three, UK, France, and Germany, on nuclear technology in Iran, and has also served as a Shia mujtahid, and economic trade negotiator.
In Their Own Words (5)
If one day we are able to complete the fuel cycle and the world sees that it has no choice, that we do possess the technology, then the situation will be different. The world did not want Pakistan to have an atomic bomb or Brazil to have the fuel cycle, but Pakistan built its bomb and Brazil has its fuel cycle, and the world started to work with them. Our problem is that we have not achieved either one, but we are standing at the threshold.
Discussing how Iran could one day present the world with a nuclear fait accompli, like Pakistan and Brazil did , 2004
All should know that the next government will not budge from defending our inalienable rights... We have passed that period. We are now in a different situation.
"Iran President-Elect Wants to Ease Strains With U.S., but Sees No Direct Talks" The New York Times, (June 17, 2013) , 2013
Close Iranian-Syrian ties will be able to confront] enemies in the region, especially the Zionist regime.
"New Iran president backs Syria's Assad, Hezbollah", The Big Story, (July 16, 2013) , 2013
The Syrian crisis must be resolved by a vote by Syrians. We are concerned by the civil war and foreign interference. The government [of President Bashar al-Assad] must be respected by other countries until the next [2014 presidential] elections and then it is up to the people to decide.
"Iran leader warns on Syria intervention", The Australian, (June 17, 2013) , 2014
After all, in our region there's been a wound for years on the body of the Muslim world under the shadow of the occupation of the holy land of Palestine and the beloved al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Rouhani misquoted in remarks on Israel - state TV, Reuters, (August 2, 2013) , 2013
Timeline
The story of Hassan Rouhani, told in moments.
Served on the Supreme Defense Council during the Iran-Iraq War. He was a mid-level cleric handling military logistics at 32, learning the mechanics of power in wartime.
Led nuclear negotiations with European powers. Temporarily suspended Iran's uranium enrichment program. Hardliners called him a sellout. He called it pragmatism.
Elected president on a platform of economic reform and diplomatic engagement. He ran as the moderate alternative. The Guardian Council approved his candidacy, which meant the Supreme Leader allowed it.
The JCPOA nuclear deal signed after two years of negotiations. Iran agreed to limit enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. Rouhani called it a new chapter. The deal collapsed three years later when the US withdrew.
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