ABSTRACT

On June 14, 2013, Hassan Rouhani won the presidential election with over 50 percent of the votes cast. Hassan Rouhani ran his campaign on the slogan of 'Moderation and Wisdom'. Supreme Leader Khamenei praised President Rouhani, stating, 'He is an experienced cleric who has served in various arenas of the revolution'. The Supreme Leader called upon the president to create economic tranquility by calming the psychological distress of the people and by eliminating market instability. Khamenei defines Iran's foreign relations as a 'revolutionary diplomacy' based upon Islamic principles. Rouhani's chief objective for his presidency was to repair Iran's economy and put it on a path to reliable growth. He underscored that 'nuclear energy is part of Iranian's national pride. With the aim of turning Iran into 'the world's scientific and technological point of reference' and 'the Muslim world's scientific and technological hub, Khamenei called for the adoption of measures that would stimulate Iran's scientific growth and accelerate scientific developments.