ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Some of the problems that have brought people into the streets in widespread protests throughout Iran over the past four days have existed for years before his presidency, Hassan Rouhani told the Iranian nation on Sunday evening. The change his cabinet promised may “take time,” he said, adding that it is not fair to blame the executive branch for all the problems.
"Solving some of these problems are not easy and will take time," Rouhani told his cabinet on Sunday, according to state-run IRNA news agency.
Rouhani was elected for a second term in May. By far, his greatest achievement has been the nuclear deal his government secured with major powers in 2015. The deal allows Iran to enjoy relief from sanctions on its economy, such as oil exports, but for many Iranians the deal has yet to translate into jobs and more affordable prices.
Rouhani said it's not fair for the media to put all the blame for the problems on the government, adding that other branches of the Islamic Republic including the judiciary and the parliament have to be held accountable.
"People do not criticize the economic situation alone, people have a say over corruption, and transparency. They say things have to be transparent," he said.
He said Iran is a free country where people can express their "criticism and even protest," within the framework of the laws, but at the same time he condemned violent attacks on public property.
He said that people in Iran have to "be more vigilant" at this "sensitive time," in the region and Iran.
He warned the people against taking "other paths... that will be dangerous against security and the future of the country," paths that will allow other countries to interfere in the internal affairs of Iran.
Rouhani also criticized comments made by US President Donald Trump and other Arab countries who expressed their support for the protests. He said Trump has never been a friend of Iran since day one.
Donald Trump, among others, has expressed his support for the protests that began on Thursday. He is also a staunch opponent of the nuclear deal signed by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
"This man in the US who now wants to sympathize with our people forgot that some months ago he named the people of Iran terrorists," Rouhani said of Trump, referring to the US president’s travel ban that includes Iran.
"This man who is against the people of Iran head to toe does not have the right to sympathize with the people of Iran."
