STORY SUMMARY
Iran’s new President Hasan Rouhani, waves after swearing in at the parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Iran’s new president also acknowledged that he was a candidate who won a national election, based on a platform, and this was anchored in the promise of improving the daily lives and socio-economic situation of the Iranian people.
Rouhani has asked for Iran to be treated respectfully, and eschewed the kind of fiery rhetoric that was the stock-in-trade of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Western countries, including the United States, have thus far reacted positively upon hearing the words coming out of Iran over the weekend. It’s the kind of situation in which the White House can talk about its hope of becoming a “willing partner” with Iran, but this, like the other statements coming out of western capitals, is accompanied by the proviso: We are waiting to see what Iran does.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2013/Aug-05/226264-seize-the-day.ashx#ixzz2b6vlYwKS
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)