Hassan Rouhani

ABOUT Hassan Rouhani is an influential Iranian politician who has significantly impacted the country's political landscape. Born on November 12, 1948, in Sorkheh, Iran, Rouhani has served as the 7th President of Iran from 2013 to 2021. A member of the Moderation and Development Party, he is known for advocating more moderate policies and measures aimed at reforming Iran's economy and international relations. Rouhani's presidency is particularly notable for the negotiation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, with world powers in 2015.

BEFORE FAME Before rising to the presidency, Hassan Rouhani laid a strong foundation in both religious and secular education. He attended the Semnan Seminary and later received higher religious education at the Qom Seminary. Rouhani expanded his academic credentials by studying at University of Tehran, where he earned at LLB and subsequently acquired his Master’s degree and PhD in Constitutional Law from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.

Rouhani’s political career began early; he was a close associate of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Following the revolution, Rouhani held various important positions, including serving as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005 and as a Member of the Iranian Parliament for several terms.

TRIVIA

• Hassan Rouhani has written several books and articles on political, social, and religious topics.
• Rouhani's moderate and pragmatic approach distinguishes him from his predecessors, and he has been invested in economic reforms and detente with the Western world.
• Rouhani's administration saw significant economic improvements and alleviation of international sanctions following the 2015 nuclear agreement, although the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018 posed substantial challenges.
• Fluent in Persian, Arabic, and English, Rouhani has often emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in international relations.

FAMILY LIFE Hassan Rouhani is married to Sahebeh Arabi, and together they have five children. Rouhani has maintained a relatively private family life, seldom revealing details about his personal affairs. His family has largely stayed out of the public eye, allowing Rouhani to focus on his public and political roles.

ASSOCIATED WITH Throughout his career, Hassan Rouhani has been associated with several notable figures in Iranian and global politics. He worked closely with Ruhollah Khomeini during the early years of the Islamic Republic and later with Ali Khamenei, Iran's current Supreme Leader. Internationally, Rouhani engineered dialogue with leaders such as Barack Obama, who was the U.S. President during the negotiation of the JCPOA. Domestically, he has been aligned with figures in the Reformist and Conservative camps to varying degrees, reflecting his moderate and centrist stance.