Hassan Rouhani Iranian politician, lawyer, scientist and diplomat, President of Iran. Date of Birth: 12.11.1948 Country: Iran

1. Biography of Hassan Rouhani
2. Early Life and Education
3. Political Career and Achievements
4. Presidential Career

Biography of Hassan Rouhani

Hassan Rouhani is an Iranian politician, lawyer, scholar, and diplomat who currently serves as the President of Iran. Born in Sorkheh, Semnan, Rouhani's father, Haj Asadollah Feridon, was a spice shop owner and a political activist who frequently clashed with the authorities. The Iranian Revolution brought about a radical change in the country, and Rouhani, once a rebel himself, rose to power as a leader. He proved to be just as successful in his leadership role as he was in his rebellious days, reaching the pinnacle of his political career and becoming the President of Iran.

Early Life and Education

Rouhani, then known as Feridon, was born in Sorkheh, Semnan. His father's political activities led to his frequent arrests, with a minimum of 20 arrests between 1962 and 1979. Rouhani began his studies at a local seminary in 1960 and later moved to Qom Seminary, where he was mentored by prominent Iranian scholars. While devoting much of his time to the study of religion and law, Rouhani also pursued contemporary sciences. He enrolled in the University of Tehran in 1969 and obtained a bachelor's degree in law in 1972. He continued his education in Glasgow, earning master's and doctoral degrees.

Political Career and Achievements

During his time in Iran, Rouhani became a follower of Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1965, he embarked on a journey across Iran, often delivering anti-government speeches along the way. As a result, he was frequently imprisoned and eventually received a complete ban on public speaking. It is believed that Rouhani's efforts led to Khomeini being referred to as "imam" more widely.

After the revolution, Rouhani played an active role in restoring order in the country. He began by reorganizing the chaotic Iranian military bases and the army as a whole. In 1980, Rouhani was elected to the Iranian parliament. During the Iran-Iraq War, he held leadership positions in various military and para-military organizations. Following the war, Rouhani was awarded the Fath (Victory) and Nasr Medals.

In the same period, Rouhani was offered the position of Minister of Intelligence of Iran, but he declined. After the establishment of the Supreme National Security Council, he became its official representative and later its first secretary. For 16 years, from 1989 to 2005, Rouhani held the position of secretary, responsible for international negotiations related to nuclear weapons. The press even dubbed him the "Diplomat Sheikh." As a nuclear diplomat, Rouhani served for a total of 678 days, during a tense period in the region marked by the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Presidential Career

In March 2013, Rouhani announced his candidacy for the presidential race. He quickly gained popularity as a strong candidate, leading to speculations that he might be disqualified before the election. However, this did not happen, and on June 15, 2013, the election results were announced, with Rouhani winning by a significant margin. He assumed office on August 3, 2013, and announced the composition of his presidential cabinet a day later.

Rouhani's focus as president has been on the development of the Iranian economy, as he had previously stated.