Iran's Rouhani sworn in for second presidential term

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was sworn in for a second, four-year term in an open parliament session. He called for greater freedom of expression and free access to information in Iran as well as better ties to the rest of the world.

The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini attended the inauguration along with several other foreign guests, including French and German officials. In a meeting prior to his inauguration, Rouhani said the presence of senior European diplomats showed Europe's determination to expand ties with Iran, despite pressure from the US.

The parliament chamber was lined with the flags of the inauguration's guests. With more than 100 foreign delegations, including top diplomats from Europe, it was the largest showing of international guests at a presidential inauguration since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Prior to assuming office, Rouhani was a religious scholar, lawyer and cleric. The 68-year-old was first elected president in 2013, and is seen as a moderate reformist. During the campaign, Rouhani promised to continue building diplomatic ties abroad and to increase gender and ethnic equality at home. Analysts say the president may struggle to make an impact within Iran's power structure.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L), formally endorsed Rouhani (R) for his second term in office at a ceremony on Thursday. As the supreme leader has the final say on all state matters, it's unclear how far Rouhani will be able to push his domestic and foreign policies.

Rouhani is due to present his government lineup to parliament soon, which is expected to be all male. Supporters and reformist allies of the re-elected leader heavily criticized the lack of female ministers, as much of Rouhani's popularity has been built on promises for greater civil liberties, including more rights for women.

During Rouhani's first term, Iran emerged from isolation in 2015 when the country struck a deal with six world powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. The landmark deal is now under threat from US President Donald Trump, who has taken an aggressive Iran policy since entering office. Trump also recently signed a new package of sanctions against Iran.

Rouhani also faces the difficult task of delivering on promises to improve Iran's economy. Unemployment in the country is high and rose from 24 to 30 percent during Rouhani's first term. Although the nuclear deal helped stabilize Iran's currency, foreign investment in the country has been sluggish.