Iran's Rouhani vows to boost economy for 2nd term in office

Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony as Iranian President in Iran's parliament in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Aug 5, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

TEHRAN - Hassan Rouhani on Thursday vowed to focus on economic growth of the country as he is endorsed by the Iranian Supreme Leader as Iranian president for his second term.

In a ceremony broadcast live on state television on Thursday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave his official approval for Rouhani.

Following the endorsement, Rouhani said that his main concern for the next four years would be to improve the economy of the country to promote social justice and eliminate poverty.

He also said that his administration would make the utmost effort to eradicate corruption and contain inflation.

Rouhani pledged to adhere to the "resilient economy," the outlines of which have already been drawn by the Supreme Leader, and make use of domestic potential for economic growth.

Iran cherishes its independence and will stand against any attempt to isolate the country, he said.

In the meantime, he stressed that his government will continue its interaction with the outside world and will encourage investments in infrastructure as a prerequisite for sustainable development and technology transfer.

The incumbent moderate president won a landslide victory on May 19 by garnering 57 percent of the ballots.

His nearest conservative challenger Ebrahim Raisi got 38.5 percent of the ballots.

The key political achievement of Rouhani during past four years in the office was signing a nuclear deal with six major world powers, namely Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, which put an end to a decade-long dispute over the country's sensitive nuclear program.

The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was signed in July 2015 and was implemented in January 2016.

Based on the deal, nuclear-related sanctions on various Iranian business and financial sectors were lifted, but it put more strict limits on its nuclear program.

Rouhani will take the oath of office in the parliament on Saturday.