Rouhani: Constructive Engagement with the World; Khamenei: Appear with Authority Against America

Minutes after Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, spoke about his plan for the next four years for "effective and constructive engagement with the world," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, urged him and his government to "appear with authority and firmness" against the United States. On Thursday, August 12, during the ceremony of Rouhani's presidential endorsement, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that his "constant advice" is "engagement with the world," adding that this advice is "exactly opposite to what the enemies are pursuing." The leader of the Islamic Republic also asked Rouhani's government to "appear with firmness and power against any imperialism," adding: "That imperialism, whoever it may be, is today the most aggressive and shameless, the regime of the United States of America, and against them, you should appear with authority and firmness." His remarks came as the United States believes that some of Iran's actions undermine regional and international peace and stability, violating the spirit of the nuclear agreement, which stipulates that Iran is supposed to participate in creating peace and stability in the region and globally. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, signed a congressional bill on August 11 to intensify sanctions against Iran, Russia, and North Korea. On the same day, the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany warned the United Nations that Iran had taken a "threatening and provocative step" by testing a missile capable of carrying a satellite into space and called for the UN Secretary-General to address this issue. However, the leader of the Islamic Republic described this action as "a normal and usual thing" that has caused "hysteria." Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that international engagement should not lead to "neglect" of the "enemies" who, according to him, are trying for the "destruction" of the Islamic Republic. Since the Vienna nuclear agreement, the leader has repeatedly warned about what he calls "America's attempts to infiltrate" Iran and has also stated that the visits of European economic delegations to Iran after this agreement have had "no results." Hours before Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks, Hassan Rouhani announced at the presidential endorsement ceremony that in the next four years he would continue "with more confidence than before on constructive and effective engagement with the world within the framework of the Constitution." Mr. Rouhani once again referred to the Vienna nuclear agreement as a "sign of Iran's goodwill and engagement," stating that "our country, although paying the cost of its independence with dignity, will never accept the imposition of isolation by enemies." Rouhani's remarks came at a time when close associates of the leader of the Islamic Republic refer to the Vienna nuclear agreement with terms such as "damage" and severely criticize the government's foreign policies. The sanctions have made the Islamic Republic "strong politically and security-wise." In his remarks on Thursday, the leader of the Islamic Republic also asked the government to address "economic and livelihood problems" and bring them to a "acceptable point" by the end of four years. He emphasized that "rooting out corruption and focusing on justice should be prioritized." Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that Western sanctions against Iran have made the Islamic Republic "strong politically and security-wise, despite the will and desire of the enemy." The leader's remarks came at a time when officials from Hassan Rouhani's government, several members of parliament, and economic experts have repeatedly spoken about the destructive impact of sanctions on Iran's economy. He also expressed doubts last year about the government's statistics on economic progress. During the presidential election, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Mostafa Mir-Salim, rivals of Hassan Rouhani, severely criticized his government's performance in economic areas. In his remarks, the leader of the Islamic Republic also called for "avoiding creating turmoil" and stated that "everything we have is from the unity of the nation among themselves and the unity of the people with the executors." He also told the government: "Let the opponents criticize and express dissenting opinions; you should not be disturbed, there are plenty of flaws in our work, accept criticism as a form of tolerance." In recent weeks, the Iranian president's remarks about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have led to protests from the leader's close associates. Meanwhile, during the presidential election, Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi, along with Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, severely criticized each other, and these criticisms have continued after the presidential election. In the election debates, Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and Mostafa Mir-Salim accused Hassan Rouhani of using at least 50 "insulting" phrases about critics. In response, Hassan Rouhani, in remarks in Urmia, told them: "Those who cut tongues and sewed mouths speak of freedom of expression and criticism. Over the past years, everything you issued was a word of prohibition; prohibition of pen, prohibition of image, please do not speak of freedom, as freedom is ashamed." The discussion regarding the necessity of freedom of criticism and dissent comes at a time when many of his critics have been imprisoned on charges of "insulting the leadership." Additionally, since the February 1979 revolution, thousands of critics of the government have been executed, and thousands more have been imprisoned. The ceremony for the endorsement of Hassan Rouhani's presidency as the head of the twelfth government was held on Thursday. According to Article 110 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, "the signature of the presidential decree after the people's election" is among the "duties and powers of the leadership." The four-year presidential term in Iran begins from the date of the "endorsement of the credentials" by the leader. The inauguration ceremony for Hassan Rouhani's second presidential term is also scheduled to take place on the evening of Saturday, August 14, in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Since the revolution in Iran in 1979, there have been 12 presidential elections in the country, and seven individuals have been elected to this position: Abolhassan Banisadr, Mohammad Ali Rajai, Ali Khamenei, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Hassan Rouhani.