Hassan Rouhani has said too many people have been alienated by Iran’s ruling establishment and proposed holding a referendum in an attempt to heal divisions in a country recently struck by an outburst of public discontent.

In a speech to mark the 39th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, the president called for unity and told thousands of flag-waving people at a rally: “When the revolution took place, we were all together and there were plenty of passengers on the train of the revolution; some of them wanted to get off the train themselves, and we got some of them off the train, whom we didn’t have to.”



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Rouhani, who is at odds with hardliners, was speaking a month after protests over economic grievances spread spontaneously to as many as 80 cities, taking on a political dimension. The unrest resulted in the deaths of at least 25 protesters and jailing of more than 3,000 people, many of whom remain in prison.

Divisions in Iran’s political system have deepened and the opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi remain under house arrest. The leader of the country’s reformist movement, Mohammad Khatami, faces severe restrictions on his political movements and even the former hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has become outspoken about the state of the repression.

“Today, we need everyone, including principlists, reformists, moderates and everyone who recognises the constitution, for the country’s development and progress,” Rouhani said.

“The constitution should be our point of reference … If we disagree on some issues, we should refer to the article 59 [the constitutional article on holding referendums].”

Rouhani’s speech was largely aimed at his domestic audience, but he also talked about regional issues without directly addressing the confrontation over the weekend between the Syrian army and Iranian-backed forces, and Israeli fighter jets.

The moderate cleric dismissed concerns over Iran’s regional behaviour and credited his country for the retreat of Islamic State.

On the 2015 nuclear deal, under threat from Donald Trump, Rouhani said: “The Americans have so far attempted to eliminate this important regional and international agreement, but to date, they have failed. Today, I declare that our nation is committed to its pledges until the day that the other side does so.”</s>Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is due to leave for India on Thursday. (File)</s>Rouhani calls for ‘year of unity’ after protests

TEHRAN: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday called for a "year of unity" after recent protests as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution.

Rouhani said conservative officials should not block candidates they dislike from future elections, and that there should be greater trust in the people, including the use of referenda on key issues.

"I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together," he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran.

Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties.

He has tried to use protests that hit dozens of cities over the new year as a way to convince conservatives that they must follow his calls for reform. "We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections," he said in an apparent swipe at the conservative-dominated Guardian Council, which regularly blocks hundreds of reformist candidates from standing in presidential and parliamentary votes.

"Our revolution was victorious when we were all together," he said. "And today we must once again invite everyone to get on board the successful and victorious train of the revolution. "All Iranian races, all Iranian religions, Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zaroastrians -- whoever believes in the constitution, that is our criteria. He is a revolutionary and he must be respected," Rouhani said.

He raised a controversial demand to use referenda, which are allowed under article 59 of the constitution that was passed after the 1979 revolution, but have not been used for decades. "If there are differences of opinions on a couple of issues... bring the ballot box and according to the article 59 of the constitution, whatever people say, act accordingly," said Rouhani.

His words immediately triggered support on social media, including tweets with the hashtag #referendum. Rouhani did not specify which issues could be put in question, but his comments come amid growing debate over social freedoms including an imposed headscarf for women, which has triggered unprecedented protests by a small number of people in recent weeks.</s>Tehran: Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani will visit India this week for three days, as per reports on Monday.

He was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, reports said.

India and Iran have collaborated on key projects, most notably the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran that was inaugurated in December.

India has been a key purchaser of Iranian oil and gas and maintained trade ties even as international sanctions were imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme between 2012 and 2016.</s>TEHRAN: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called for a "year of unity" as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution Sunday in the wake of protests last month.

Rouhani said conservatives should not block reformist candidates from future elections and that there should be greater trust in the people of the Islamic republic.

"I request that the 40th year of the revolution, the coming year, be the year of unity. I ask conservatives, reformists, moderates and all parties and all people to come and be together," he said in a speech before a huge crowd in Tehran.

Rouhani, a long-time regime insider who won power in 2013 and again in 2017 with the backing of reformists, has faced tough criticism from conservatives over his efforts to rebuild relations with the West and ease civil liberties.

"We should trust the people. We must allow all inclinations to participate in elections," he said.

"In the last 39 years, we have progressed in many fields, but at the same time we have had shortcomings.

"Maybe in decision-making, we have had delays. Maybe we haven't been speaking transparently with our people."

The conservative-dominated Guardian Council has the power to veto candidates in all elections, and has in the past barred hundreds of reformists from standing for the presidency and parliament.</s>Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani will visit India this week for three days, local media reported on Monday.

Rouhani is due to leave for India on Thursday to discuss “the latest regional and global developments”, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

He was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, ISNA said.

India and Iran have collaborated on key projects, most notably the Chabahar port in southeastern Iran that was inaugurated in December.

The port has been touted as a way for India to establish trade routes that bypass its rival Pakistan, but the project has seen multiple delays.

India has been a key purchaser of Iranian oil and gas, and maintained trade ties even as international sanctions were imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme between 2012 and 2016.

However, there have been tensions in the relationship, with the Indian media reporting frustrations over delays in awarding a contract to develop a major gas field known as Farzad B in the Gulf.

That led India to announce it was reducing its oil imports from Iran in protest in March 2017, leading Tehran to say it was restricting credit lines to India.

The two countries have nonetheless sought to move beyond the spat, and have continued to seek partnerships, with India signing a preliminary agreement last month to help expand Iran’s rail network, including expanding rail links to Chabahar.
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani proposes a referendum to heal country's divisions, according to the Article 59 of constitution.