Iranian presidential candidate Hassan Rohani says he will seek help from the Iranian elite in running the countrys affairs and will attempt to establish amicable ties with the international community if elected president.The Administration of Prudence and Hope will be the administration of peace, friendship and reconciliation; reconciliation with the elite, scholars and competent managers, reconciliation with the people and the world in an attempt to put an end to the oppressive pressure against the Iranian nation, Rohani said in his first election campaign documentary broadcast on national TV on Tuesday.
Rohani touched upon Irans economic challenges, saying, The most important economic problem for the people, which they seek to find a solution to, is high prices. We see that the prices of basic goods have increased by nearly 300 percent within eight years. Inflation stood at over 31 percent over the past year alone.
The government should leave the economy to the people, and only have a supervisory, supportive and policy-making role, he pointed out.
On the other hand, our economy should be exports-oriented. If we manage to link our universities to our industries, we can say that we have made good headway in terms of innovation, Rohani added.
The top Iranian official noted that the ruling system should represent all political and social strata to manage the countrys affairs efficiently.
Explaining his stance about the womens role in the society, Rohani said, If we do not appreciate the presence of women in the society and fail to prepare the ground for their participation in various fields, it means that we are deprived of many valuable experts and managers in the society.
In the next administration, discrimination between men and women will be eliminated in all social arenas, the reformist candidate pointed out.
Rohani also defended his track record as Irans chief nuclear negotiator from October 2003 to August 2005.
I am happy to have moved war, sanctions, and the UN Security Council [resolutions] away from Iran, he said.
I pride myself on having succeeded in winning the unanimous confirmation of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors regarding the peacefulness of [Irans nuclear] activities, he added.
The United States and the European Union have imposed illegal unilateral bans on the Islamic Republic over the unfounded allegation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian purposes in its nuclear energy program. Iran strongly rejects the allegation.
It would be nice to see centrifuges turning, provided that the wheels of the country also turn, the presidential candidate said.
But when a centrifuge is supposed to keep spinning while the entire country remains stagnant, meaning that we launch the single Natanz [nuclear] facility, but hundreds of our factories face problems, stop operating or work at a 20-percent capacity due to a lack of parts, raw materials and sanctions that we do not approve of, he pointed out.
Rohani will be competing against Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the secretary of Irans Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati, former First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi in Iran's 11th presidential election.
On June 14, Iranians will cast their ballots at over 66,000 polling stations across the country, and some 285 polling stations will be set up for Iranian nationals in other countries.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.
By Press TV
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