Hassan Rouhani, a moderate cleric, was sworn in Sunday as Iran's new president, officially ending the controversial eight-year, two-term presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"Everyone that voted for me or for other candidates and also those who did not vote at all are all Iranian citizens and have equal civil rights," Rouhani said. "I am the legal representative of the entire nation."
Rouhani, who won a landslide victory in the June 14 presidential elections, wasted no time in distinguishing his style from that of his often-provocative predecessor, delivering an inauguration speech that touched on his campaign promises of improving Iran's economy, mending foreign relations and giving greater social freedom to its citizens, but not at the expense of Iran's national interests.