The people will pay direly for any mistake in the foreign policy domain, and those in charge must be answerable for such oversights, Rouhani said during a ceremony on Saturday to introduce Mohammad Javad Zarif as new Foreign Minister.

In the June presidential election, Rouhani noted, Iranians called for a review of the country’s policy, adding, “Review, however, does not mean a change in the principles, but the tactics and approaches should change.”

Rouhani described foreign policy as “very sensitive” and stated that it plays a key role in resolving the country’s problems at present.

He added that his administration would “bravely” pursue national interests and said, “Our words should be wise, precise and logical because foreign policy … is an arena for understanding international events precisely.”

The president said the Iranian people would stand by the administration if it “talks to the world wisely and the nation feels that we are working with prudence.”

“In the foreign policy, we need national might, and national might means national consensus,” Rouhani pointed out.

He emphasized that the Iranian nation will never give up its interests, adding that the world should very well take the message conveyed by Iranians during the nation’s June 14 presidential election.

On Thursday, Majlis (parliament) wrapped up its debate for a vote of confidence on Rouhani’s cabinet picks after four days of deliberations on the credentials of the ministerial nominees.

The Iranian legislators approved 15 of the 18 proposed ministers, but the nominees for the ministers of Education; Science, Research and Technology; and Sports and Youth, did not win a vote of confidence.

The new cabinet is scheduled to convene its first meeting on Sunday, according to an advisor to President Rouhani.

The president now has up to three months to nominate replacements for the three vacancies.

HH/HH