Behind the Scenes: Iranian Leaders and the Women Beside Them

Hassan Rouhani, born in 1948, is a centrist cleric and long-time political figure in Iran. He was elected president in 2013, promising moderation, economic recovery, and better relations with the West. Rouhani’s administration is best known for negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, which lifted sanctions in exchange for curbing Iran’s nuclear activities. This agreement marked a brief thaw in Iran-U.S. relations.