Iran’s newly-elected president Hassan Rouhani, who was backed by reformists, says he will follow a “path of moderation”.

In his first news conference he set out how he intends to govern since being voted in with a landslide on Friday.

Mr Rouhani said he would pursue constructive interaction with the world and said he hoped all countries would use the opportunity of his election to seize a new chance of friendly relations.

But he stopped short of saying that Iran would end its programme of uranium enrichment, which the West says is part of a plan to gain nucelar weapons.

He told reporters in Iran: “Your government … will follow up national goals … in the path of saving the country’s economy, revive ethics and constructive interaction with the world through moderation.

“Our nuclear programmes are completely transparent.

“But we are ready to show greater transparency and make clear for the whole world that the steps of the Islamic Republic of Iran are completely within international frameworks,” he said.

He said: “Your government … will follow up national goals … in the path of saving the country’s economy, revive ethics and constructive interaction with the world through moderation.”

He urged his country not to be held back by past policies, emphasising messages from Western leaders since his victory that had brought hope of new openings with Tehran.

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