Hassan Rouhani (born 12 November 1948) is the seventh President of Iran since 2013, serving under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Entering office as a pragmatic moderate in notable contrast with his extreme predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rouhani loosened his country's notoriously shaky relationship with the United States, claiming that its nuclear system is entirely peaceful and agreeing on a deal with the west. Whether this is out of a genuine desire to open up or out of Pragmatic Villainy is a hotly debated topic.
Rouhani was born Hassan Fereydoun and changed his surname to a word which meant "cleric", though it is a mystery when he decided to change it. He was a supporter of the Iranian Revolution and was arrested several times by the Shah. During the Iran–Iraq War, Rouhani served as the deputy commander of war and the commander of the Iranian Air Defense. In 1999, he led the crackdown against student protests and served as the first Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. In the same year, he received a Ph.D, though the thesis may or may not have been plagiarized.
In 2013, Rouhani was elected President of Iran, replacing Ahmadinejad. There he looked to temper relationships with the west (or as he says), and acknowledged the Holocaust whereas his predecessor was a denier. He also expressed a desire for nuclear disarmament, calling on Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains suspicious and refused to sign it. There seemed to be growing optimism in Iran...at least until 2018, when the new President of the United States Donald Trump revoked the deal. Anti-Americanism returned to the country and dissatisfaction towards Rouhani was brought along.
In the last few years of his presidency, Rouhani faced with a series of almost improbably bad luck with several unforeseen events taking place that caused a downward spiral in his reputation. Following his re-election on the promise of lifting sanctions, the right-wing Donald Trump out of all people was elected president of the US and withdrew from the nuclear deal. Heavy sanctions were imposed, causing an economic downturn throughout the country. Mass protests occurred throughout the country due to the skyrocketing oil price, and in response, the military cracked down hard on the protestors, resulting in an entire month of an internet blackout. Worse so, Qassem Soleimani, The Dragon (or Dragon-in-Chief, depending on your view) to Khamenei, was assassinated in a drone strike, and the Iranian military retaliated by blowing up an aircraft and launching missiles at an embassy, all without Rouhani's knowledge. For the rest of his presidency, Rouhani found himself receding into the shadows, while Khamenei took centre stage in Iranian politics.
Throughout world politics, Rouhani is an extremely polarizing figure. His supporters believe him to be a genuine Only Sane Man and Nice Guy who wants to see him as a reformer in contrast with the Ahmadinejad years, while his opponents claim that he is a sycophant and Slimeball who butt-kisses Khamenei (his eldest son was Driven to Suicide apparently because of this) and is the same as the rest of the Iranian elite and hides his cruelty and oppressiveness behind a Cool Old Guy facade (his brother, Hossein, was arrested for multiple cases of corruption). Others, especially more hardline opponents within his own country, often see him as an incompetent bureaucrat whose deal with the United States was more of a Head-in-the-Sand Management than anything, especially after the sanctions were imposed.
Tropes pertaining to Hassan Rouhani's appearances and portrayals in media:
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Seen as such by his opponents. Israeli prime minister Netanyahu literally described him as such according to one article.
- Butt-Monkey: As previously mentioned, Rouhani pretty much slid into this role during his second term as president.
- Cool Old Guy: To his supporters.
- Contrasting Sequel Antagonist: To his foreign opponents, he is this when compared with his predecessor. Ahmadinejad is young, considered an abrasive conservative, openly hostile towards the United States and an engineer who opposes clerics, even stirring up conflict with Khamenei himself so much that so that the latter grew sick of him. Rouhani, on the other hand, is an older man and seen as a shrewd moderate who uses a friendly facade as a coverup, and a cleric. In addition, Ahmadinejad, who attempted to undermine Khamenei's power during his second term, is often seen as The Starscream, while Rouhani more or less takes the role of the unambitious but loyal Creon.
- Enemy Mine: Tried to improve relationships with the United States.
- More Popular Replacement: Considered as such when compared to Ahmadinejad.
- Noble Top Enforcer: Many people see him as this to his boss Ali Khamenei.
- Only Sane Man: Well if you believe him. Or his supporters. His opposition sees him as the same as the other Iranian politicians.
- Perpetual Smiler: Usually seen grinning in photos.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: Wears glasses, and is considered to be levelheaded and pragmatic. Depending on the view, it could count as Four Eyes, Zero Soul.
- Villain with Good Publicity: At least according to his opponents.
Rouhani is referenced/appears in the following works:
- In Madam Secretary, the President of Iran Najid Sheraz is an Expy of Rouhani.
