NEW YORK TIMES: Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, vowed Saturday to work with the outside world to lift the “oppressive sanctions” crippling the Iranian economy, as he received the official backing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony marking the start of his presidential term…
But he and the ayatollah offered somewhat different solutions. Whereas Mr. Rouhani said that interactions with the world, meaning talks with Europe and potentially the United States, were a way out of the crisis, Ayatollah Khamenei, who as supreme leader has final word on all important issues, expressed pessimism that such overtures would yield fruit. “Some of our enemies do not speak with our language of wisdom,” he said, urging self-sufficiency…
Mr. Rouhani also told lawmakers that inflation was rising at an annualized rate of 42 percent — far higher than the 32 percent rate reported by the government-controlled Central Bank. Private economists say Iran’s inflation rate could be even higher… (more)
What he says he wants to do and what he is able to do are two different things. Already the supreme leader the Ayatolah has placed barriers in his path.
He has rejected 4 members of his cabinet.