The first news conference of Iran’s new president-elect was held with comments on a wide range of issues that included reviving the Association of Iranian Journalists to the possibility of lifting the house arrests of Mousavi and Karoubi, which at the end brought some disorder to the event.

Prior to the media questions, Hassan Rowhani set the tone by saying, “I ask God to bless me so I can fulfill all of my campaign promises.”

Many of the questions asked of Rowhani related to how to improve the economic conditions of the country and relations with the West, particularly the nuclear issue. The president elect pledged to do everything in his power to reduce international sanctions on the country, improve relations with the world, establish relations with other countries on the basis of mutual trust, and said he was willing to talk with the US if that country accepted some preconditions. He added that international sanctions would be gradually lifted through making Iran’s nuclear activities more transparent and removing the mistrust between the negotiating parties. At the same time, he rejected any suspension of uranium enrichment and categorized that notion to belong to the past.

In response to a question about the meaning of moderation in politics and the economy, Rowhani said, “Moderation in economics, politics and culture means not taking the path and manner of extremism, slogans and self-centeredness.”

The president-elect also promised that he would continue the existing cash payouts of the subsidies programs adding that a team of close associates would be identified to discuss and evaluate the manner of continuing targeted subsidies.

In response to a question about the Association of Iranian Journalists which has been shut by Ahmadinejad’s administration since 2009 he said, “I believe that not only that association but all associations should be revived legally because these organizations are the best tools to manage the issues of society and the management of social issues must be carried out through these very professional and trade associations and groups. I will put my efforts into this.”

On foreign policy, most of the questions were about the nuclear issue. He specifically mentioned the need to have good relations with Saudi Arabia and the countries around the Persian Gulf and added that he had some thoughts/reservations about relations with China, while he desired to continue relations with that country.

On the Syrian crisis, Rowhani said, “The resolution of the Syrian issue is on the shoulders of the Syrian people and they are the ultimate decision maker of their fate. We are against terrorism and the interference of other countries who want to interfere in Syrian affairs. We hope that with the help of the regional countries peace and tranquility will return to Syria and that the Syrian people get whatever they want.”

Returning to the issue of international sanctions on Iran, the 63-year-old president-elect said, “To remove the sanctions step by step two actions can be taken: the first is to take steps to make the nuclear issue more transparent. Of course our nuclear program is completely transparent now, but we are prepared to make it more transparent and show the world that the actions of the Islamic republic are completely within the international frameworks. And second, we shall increase the mutual trust between Iran and other countries. We shall strive to maintain this trust wherever it may be harmed.”

On relations with the United States, Rowhani said, “Relations between Iran and the US are a complex and a difficult issue. There are historic wounds and reason must be used to heal them. We will certainly not be after tension. Common sense and reason dictate that the two countries should be thinking about the future and repair the past damage and any talk of direct negotiations must be on the basis of respect, mutual interest on equal basis.”

Just as the question time of the news conference came to its end, an attendee could be heard shouting, “Rowhani remember that Mousavi too must be here,” which was enthusiastically welcomed by a group of reporters who supported and encouraged this.

Hours later some participants at the conference said that the person who called that out was an “infiltrator” and a close associate of Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, the current chief of staff of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.