Tehran, Iran, Aug. 3 / Trend T. Jafarov /
Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani said that his government will take fresh steps towards promotion of Iran's interests and better interaction with the world based on its national interests.
Rouhani also said that he will work towards the removal of western sanctions.
The new president added that his government will adopt moderate policies and actions and distance itself from extremism and extremist approaches.
He further described June 14 presidential election as a great show of democracy and praised high public turnout.
The Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei officially endorsed Hassan Rohani as the country's new president for a four-year term on Saturday.
A statement by the leader said, Rohani is a competent individual with more than three decades of service to the Islamic establishment. It added electing such an individual and a huge popular turnout was a clear message to enemies that people have loyalty and trust in the Islamic establishment.
Rohani succeeded Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose second presidential term ended on Saturday.
He will take the oath of office at the parliament on Sunday. The Foreign Ministry has announced that 55 foreign delegations have been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony.
The delegations include eleven presidents, two prime ministers, eight vice presidents and seven parliament speakers. This is the first time that Iran is inviting foreign officials to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony.
Senior Iranian officials and political figures including chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Iran Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, chairman of Iran's Guardian Council Ayatollah Jannati, Previous President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, grandson of late Iran Supreme Leader Hassan Khomeini and Khamenei's advisor Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri have attended the ceremony.
Former presidential candidates Mohammad Reza Aref, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Mohsen Rezaei, Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel, Saeed Jalili, Ali Akbar Velayatai and Seyyed Mohammad Gharazi have also taken part in the ceremony.
Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami, however, has not attended the endorsement ceremony of Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani.
Based on the reports, Khatami is not supposed to attend Rouhani's swearing-in ceremony either.
MP Shahain Mohammad Sadeghi said on Monday that Khatami was not invited.
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