Introducing ran's new president, Hassan Rohani

Iran has a new president. Hassan Rohani, who was supported by former reformist presidents, Mohammad Khatami and Hashemi Rafsanjani, was elected with just over 50% of the vote on 14 June. Rohani, considered a moderate relative to his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is tasked with a number of major domestic and international political issues. While his power is limited in effecting real and sweeping change (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is still the head of the executive) he is expected to soften the rhetoric and make advances with regard to the Iranian economy, which has been hard hit by sanctions relating to the country's nuclear development ambitions. Rohani is also expected to replace hard line pro-Ahmadinejad conservatives in the Iranian state and replace them with technocrats or moderates. As a cleric and former adviser to the supreme leader, Rohani is not expected to directly challenge the existing order, which is, on paper, headed by the clerics. He will, however, face some pressure from his reformist moderate allies and liberals to introduce some reforms. Pressure from the all-powerful (economic and military) Iranian Revolutionary guard Corps to maintain their hegemony will also be a tricky path to tread. 

General backgrounder
Rohani was born in 1948. During his formative years he studied at a religious school and later earned a degree in judicial law at the University of Tehran. In the 1990s, he studied further in Scotland earning his masters and doctorate. During the 1970s he was a fervent supporter of Ayatollah Khomeini and strongly opposed the regime of the time. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Rohani was actively involved in reorganizing the Iranian military and was elected to Iran's parliament, the Consultative Assembly (Majilis), in 1980. He served in the Majilis until 2000 and was actively involved in the defence and foreign policy committees. He also served in various military leadership positions during the Iran-Iraq conflict (1980-1988). From 1989 to 2005 Rohani was the representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on the Supreme National Security Council. He also served as national security adviser for presidents, Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami between 1989 to 1997 and 2000 to 2005 respectively. Between 2003 and 2005 he was the country's primary nuclear negotiator.