Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urges end to sanctions

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has urged the West to drop sanctions and treat Tehran with respect, during his inauguration speech to parliament.

MPs cheered as he said: "If you want an adequate response, you shouldn't speak the language of sanctions, you should speak the language of respect."

Mr Rouhani, 64, nominated a cabinet that included as foreign minister ex-UN envoy Mohammad Javad Zarif, a moderate.

The US said it would be a "willing partner" if Iran "engages seriously".

The White House said Iran should meet its international obligations and deal with international concern over its nuclear programme.

Mr Rouhani, a former nuclear negotiator who has worked as a diplomat for three decades, won a surprise victory in June's election.



James Reynolds

BBC Iran correspondent

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The President has few formal powers. All important decisions are made by the supreme leader. But crucially the presidency comes with a stage - the opportunity to deliver a message to a wide audience. This afternoon in Tehran, Hassan Rouhani made his first full use of that presidential pulpit.

Mr Rouhani promised a government of "wisdom and hope." It was a phrase he chose to repeat throughout his speech. He also repeated the word "moderation" and said that he would distance himself from fantasy - that's perhaps an implicit criticism of his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In his speech, Mr Rouhani also criticised international sanctions. But he also offered a clear opportunity for dialogue with the rest of the world - including the West. He said that there should be "transparency" on all sides. That is a key word. Since 2002, the West has accused Iran of a lack of transparency about its nuclear programme - the issue that has provoked sanctions. The president's call for mutual transparency may be welcomed by Western governments.

Those governments may soon have someone to talk to. Mr Rouhani has nominated a former UN envoy Mohammad Javad Zarif as his foreign minister. He's a man who has plenty of experience living in and negotiating with the West.

He gained support from reformists by hinting at a more moderate stance than his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He said the people had voted "yes" to moderation and hope. He promised to advance women's rights and freedoms and to reduce the government's interference in people's lives.