Iran’s president has used his inauguration for a second term in power to warn the United States against cancelling the nuclear deal struck under former president Barack Obama.
Hassan Rouhani, 68, met Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, before the ceremony today, and called for greater efforts to safeguard the 2015 deal.
Iran is currently facing fresh sanctions from the United States after strong anti-Tehran statements by Donald Trump.
Robert Mugabe, the 91-year-old Zimbabwe president, was among the old allies of Iran to attend the ceremony, but the emir of Qatar, who attended the first inauguration in 2013, was absent.
Internally, Iranians were keen to find out who would be named in Mr Rouhani’s cabinet, after rumours that there would again be no women and that very few of his reformist allies would be included.
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“The main ministers are very likely to stay in place,” said Henry Smith, Iran analyst with consultancy Control Risks.
“Rouhani will have a fairly smooth time getting parliament to approve his appointees. He’s been doing back and forth consultations with the necessary power centres the parliament speaker, supreme leader, the Revolutionary Guards – and I don’t think you’ll see a significant change in economic or indeed social policy,” he added.
Hardliners continue to wield influence over the country and have made life difficult for Mr Rouhani, which some suspect to be in fear of the growing popularity of reformists.
Hossein Fereydoun, Mr Rouhani’s brother, was arrested and detained on corruption charges last month. He is a diplomat and close adviser to his brother, so is seen as a good target for those trying to hold him back.
“Rouhani created a lot of expectation and now there is a sense that he is retreating from his promises,” said Ali Shakourirad, head of the reformist People’s Unity Party.