29 May, 2017
Countering Trump's calls to isolate the Islamic Republic, Rouhani stressed that peace in the Middle East could not be achieved without Tehran's help.
Rouhani decisively won a presidential election on Friday, securing another four-year term.
"The Iranian people voted for moderation as they know a prosperous economy and jobs can only happen through investment, and investment through freedom and interaction with the world", he said as he began his second term as president. "The population in Iran is generally satisfied and even representatives of the team opposed to Rouhani have recognized the results of the election".
But in a clear warning to Iran's "enemies" and in a nod to the conservatives, he added that the people of Iran "are not willing to accept any humiliation or threat". The resolution of the nuclear crisis is of crucial importance, as Iran needs the global sanctions to be lifted.
"The problem of terrorism will not be solved with meetings and by giving a nation's money to a superpower", President Rouhani noted, referring to Saudi Arabia's arms deal with the US.
The visit was meant to rebuild ties that strained during the Obama administration.
The president's first stop on his Middle East trip was Saudi Arabia.
He said the only sensible move by Washington was the nuclear deal it signed with Iran in 2015, when the United States "talked with respect" and reached a "win-win result". "We will win if we follow the path of jihad and endeavor", he pointed out.
Rouhani's electoral success was a major blow to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards or IRGC, which control most of Iran's industrial base. With Khamenei having served as president before rising to Iran's highest political and religious leadership position, it is easy to see that the conservative candidate Raisi, had he been elected, could have become Khamenei's successor. More than 50 percent of Iran's population is under the age of 35. But addressing the leaders of 55 Muslim-majority countries, Trump said the meeting marked a "new chapter" that would bring lasting benefits for citizens of the US and those of the countries being represented at the meeting.While Trump has won some praise for his mollifying statements, this new persona has not convinced everyone in the Muslim world.Without formal relations, there aren't direct flights between the two nations.
Trump also called on the Islamic world to renew it's fight to drive out extremists.
"The Americans do not know our region, that's what the catch is", Rouhani said in response to a question from The Associated Press.
NHK correspondent Hideki Nakayama joins the program from Riyadh.
The US President's stance, however, contrasts starkly with that of his predecessor Barack Obama. "There is no doubt in this", he said, while noting Iran was still forming its judgement of the Trump administration.
He made the remarks at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh.
He also ridiculed the $110 billion arms deal the United States and Saudi Arabia announced during Trump's visit, suggesting it was Saudi Arabia's way of making amends for the September 11 attacks.
