Rouhani Defends Record as Iran Hardliner Bids to Replace Him
- President says living conditions have improved on his watch
- Next month’s election seen as critical for relations with West
Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on April 10, 2017.
Photographer: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
President Hassan Rouhani, credited with ending Iran’s international isolation with the landmark nuclear accord in 2015, defended his economic record ahead of next month’s presidential election -- a race jolted last week by the surprise entry of a prominent hardline cleric.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Rouhani, who is widely expected to seek a second term, pushed back against criticism that poor Iranians have seen little benefit from the deal and lifting of sanctions. The economy has improved under his government, which stabilized the currency, curbed inflation and bolstered growth, he said on Monday.