The moderate, 64-year-old cleric begins his term as the Islamic republic´s seventh president facing grave challenges abroad and at home over Iran´s ailing economy and isolation resulting from the controversial policies of his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. [break]
His public inauguration will take place on Sunday when he takes oath of office before the parliament.
Rowhani defeated a league of conservative rivals in the June 14 election. He campaigned on a promise to resolve tensions with world powers and shore up the economy hit hard by severe international sanctions over Tehran´s controversial nuclear ambitions.
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