Speaking on National Student Day on Saturday, President Rouhani has linked Iran’s economic future to success with the US and other powers in nuclear talks.
Addressing students at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University, Rouhani spoke of a “historical day” dating to Iran’s Constitutional Revolution in the early 20th century. He then commented on the present:


Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani
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You all witnessed who became isolated after the Geneva agreement--the warmongers & those who don't respect international law #RouhaniLive
9:40 AM - 7 Dec 2013





Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani
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Nuclear energy is our absolute right,yes, but the right to progress, development, improving people's livelihood & welfare are also our right
9:44 AM - 7 Dec 2013





Thomas Erdbrink        ? @ThomasErdbrink
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"Our centrifuges should spin, the economic life of people should spin too," Rouhani says. "Enrichment is our right too."
9:42 AM - 7 Dec 2013




The Rouhani Government entered office in August facing an inflation rate of more than 40%, a gap of tens of billions of dollars in the Government budget, problems with investment and production, and uncertainty over Iran’s currency.

While criticizing his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for mismanagement, the President has also sought to ease the burden of sanctions through an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program.

An interim six-month deal, reached in Geneva on November 24, unfreezes about $8 billion of Iranian assets and promises relief from barriers to finance, trade, and oil exports.
Deputy Oil Minister: Nuclear Deal Will Spur Exports
Deputy Oil Minister Ali Majedi has expressed optimism after the November 24 interim nuclear deal, claiming a “reliable market” will spur exports and international investment in Iran:

Based on this deal…our customers will be able to purchase oil from Iran without any anxiety and they will not have to look for alternatives to Iran crude oil….

No new sanctions will be slapped on Iran’s oil industry in the coming six months and our customers can clinch term contracts with Iran instead of spot oil consignments purchased from National Iranian Oil Company.

Majedi said that the Joint Agreement with the 5+1 Power had lifted restrictions on insurance, a major cause of the halving of exports in 2012.

Based on the Action Plan signed between Iran and P5+1 , the European Union’s insurance sanctions against oil tankers carrying Iran’s oil have been lifted so crude oil exports will be done more easily, at lower costs and within the framework of international regulations.
Students Call on Rouhani to Open Up Culture, Free Political Prisoners
President Rouhani’s speech on National Student Day has been far from a one-way event. Some in the audience at a Tehran University pressed him to make good on campaign promises to relax censorship and free detainees:

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"Free the political prisoners," students shout. "The government will keep all it's promises."
9:44 AM - 7 Dec 2013



Others objected to relaxation of the restrictions on opposition leaders, prompting the President to seek middle ground:


Thomas Erdbrink        ? @ThomasErdbrink
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"Death to the seditionists," other students shout. "We should be more tolerant to each other," Rouhani anwsers.
9:46 AM - 7 Dec 2013


Rouhani then said, “We should create an environment that not only discourages people from leaving, but also encourages those who have left to come back.”
By EA WorldView

 

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