Hassan Rouhani's Critical Remarks on the 'Current Situation in America'

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, on Sunday, February 12, referred to the results of the recent presidential election in the United States, stating: "If the rules of the game are not observed in our society and if the intellectuals cannot convey correct thoughts and convince the people, we will face the same situation that we are witnessing today in America." According to the state news agency IRNA, Rouhani, speaking at a festival in Tehran, added: "Today, the big question for intellectuals and thinkers in America is how, with all these advertising and communication tools and so many universities, intellectuals, and scholars, they could not convince the public opinion? Who bears the burden this time?" The Iranian President's remarks may refer to the efforts and activities of many media and cultural, political, and social organizations active in the U.S. presidential election in favor of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate. Rouhani further concluded that "sometimes we think that in today's industrial and advanced world, everything is in the hands of hard sciences, technology, and basic sciences; while the heavy burden of responsibility always lies on the shoulders of human and Islamic sciences." Rouhani's critical remarks regarding Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. elections come two days after Trump responded to Rouhani's latest statements by saying: "He better be careful." Following Iran's missile test, U.S. officials have warned Iran to be cautious in its behavior and actions, to which Rouhani responded that "whoever speaks to this nation with the language of threats will make the Iranian nation regret it." Rouhani had previously criticized Trump's policies, and after Trump announced his intention to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and signed a law banning the entry of Iranians and citizens from six other countries into the U.S., Rouhani stated that "the era of building walls between nations is over." Rouhani's remarks on Sunday regarding the role of human sciences intellectuals in reform and changes in society and the necessity of increasing "social capital" in Iran come just a few months before the presidential elections in Iran. Conservative critics of Rouhani's government have been active for months in hopes of defeating the current president in this election and have increased their criticisms of the government. The extent of these activities has reached a point where some media and political activists have even mentioned the possibility of Rouhani being disqualified by the Guardian Council. Mohammad Reza Tabesh stated on Sunday, February 5, that a "severe psychological war" is being waged against Rouhani with the aim of preventing him from running in the upcoming presidential elections. Mohammad Reza Khatami, Ali Shakouri-Rad, and some other prominent reformist figures have announced that the only candidate for the reformists in the 96 presidential election is Hassan Rouhani.