Early Life
Hassan Rouhani was born in Sorkeh, a small town in Iran. He completed his priesthood training at a young age in the 1960's and graduated from the university of Tehrān in 1972 with a law degree (Findlay 2019). Rouhani was arrested several times for protesting against Shah Palhavi during the Iranian revolution and eventually fled to France alongside Ruhollah Khomeini in 1978 (Brittanica Hassan-Rouhani 2019).
Political Career
After the Iranian revolution, Rouhani returned to Iran and was elected to the legislative assembly in 1980. Rouhani served five consecutive terms of four years each in legislature before being elected to the assembly of experts in 2000 (Findlay 2019). Between 2003 and 2005 Rouhani was a chief negotiator with other nations about Iran's nuclear deals. During this time he became known among other countries as a moderate and practical negotiator, nonetheless, many countries still refused agreements Rouhani put forth. Rouhani resigned as negotiator after the 2005 presidential elections resulted in conservative politician Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taking office (Britannica Hassan-Rouhani 2019).
Rouhani continued serving on the assembly of experts until 2013, when he ran in the presidential elections as a moderate and won with just over 50% of the vote. During his time as president, Rouhani has made it his goal to begin Iranian relations with many other countries that they had previously been hostile with (Findlay 2019). While in office, Rouhani also became the first president in Iran to appoint women to many prominent government positions such as the spokesperson of the foreign ministry. Rouhani also advocates for expanded human rights and a free and open internet, however most of the power over those decisions lies not in the president but in Iran's supreme religious leader, Ali Khamenei , who is much more conservative and has been cited by watch groups as reducing human rights and freedoms in Iran (World Report 2018).
In 2017, Rouhani ran for re-election, this time under a farther left reformist platform that was bolstered by many successful diplomatic agreements during his first four years in office. He won the election with 60% of the vote, a significant amount more than his first victory, and while in office continued his goal of engaging in negotiations with more countries. Early into his second term, however, he would meet trouble when U.S. president Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, which stated that the U.S. and other European countries would lift damaging economic sanctions from Iran as long as Iran quickly denuclearized. This move came as a shock for both countries after several international inspections performed by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran was fully complying with the deal (BBC, 2018). Rouhani fired back at the U.S. saying that, "The US has announced that it doesn't respect its commitments." As a result of the U.S. exiting the deal, Iran's currency, the rial, has reached its lowest point ever, crippling Iran's economy. This has lead to current day calls for Rouhani to resign, and a significant drop in his approval rating. Iranian citizens, such as Qassim Abhari, who works as a street vender say that, "I don't care who is in the presidential palace: a cleric, a general, or anybody else. We need someone who creates jobs and firmly pushes the break pedal on rising prices." (CNBC Protests 2019). The collapsing Iranian currency is currently proving to be devastating to Rouhani, and in the coming months he could be impeached before his term is fully completed.
Rouhani continued serving on the assembly of experts until 2013, when he ran in the presidential elections as a moderate and won with just over 50% of the vote. During his time as president, Rouhani has made it his goal to begin Iranian relations with many other countries that they had previously been hostile with (Findlay 2019). While in office, Rouhani also became the first president in Iran to appoint women to many prominent government positions such as the spokesperson of the foreign ministry. Rouhani also advocates for expanded human rights and a free and open internet, however most of the power over those decisions lies not in the president but in Iran's supreme religious leader, Ali Khamenei , who is much more conservative and has been cited by watch groups as reducing human rights and freedoms in Iran (World Report 2018).
In 2017, Rouhani ran for re-election, this time under a farther left reformist platform that was bolstered by many successful diplomatic agreements during his first four years in office. He won the election with 60% of the vote, a significant amount more than his first victory, and while in office continued his goal of engaging in negotiations with more countries. Early into his second term, however, he would meet trouble when U.S. president Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, which stated that the U.S. and other European countries would lift damaging economic sanctions from Iran as long as Iran quickly denuclearized. This move came as a shock for both countries after several international inspections performed by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran was fully complying with the deal (BBC, 2018). Rouhani fired back at the U.S. saying that, "The US has announced that it doesn't respect its commitments." As a result of the U.S. exiting the deal, Iran's currency, the rial, has reached its lowest point ever, crippling Iran's economy. This has lead to current day calls for Rouhani to resign, and a significant drop in his approval rating. Iranian citizens, such as Qassim Abhari, who works as a street vender say that, "I don't care who is in the presidential palace: a cleric, a general, or anybody else. We need someone who creates jobs and firmly pushes the break pedal on rising prices." (CNBC Protests 2019). The collapsing Iranian currency is currently proving to be devastating to Rouhani, and in the coming months he could be impeached before his term is fully completed.
Historical Significance
Hassan Rouhani is currently the president of Iran, so the full extent of how he will impact Iran is unknown. However, regardless of how the future of his presidency plays out he will have been an impactful figure on the country. Rouhani's decision in running as a moderate who wants to open dialogue between Iran and western countries was notable in itself, however him winning the presidency on this platform shows a slow but steady shift in Iran's culture, although it is possible that this shift may be set back by the U.S. sanctions on Iran that are putting the country further in poverty. The future of Iran will be determined by Rouhani's reactions to economic sanctions and handling of discourse between the U.S. and Iran, which makes him a figure who will hold historical significance, even if what that significance will be is still unclear.
Protests take place all over Iran protesting the reformist parties foreign and economic policies. (Left)
Hassan Rouhani meets with British prime minister Theresa May. (Right)
Hassan Rouhani meets with British prime minister Theresa May. (Right)