Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani gives his view on how to tackle Islamic extremism in the Middle East – and tweets most of it as he does so.
The Iranian president was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, which on Wednesday heard from UK Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama as they attemped to garner support for an international coalition against the Islamic State group.
All eyes were on Mr Rouhani on Thursday, as it is hoped Iran could be a crucial ally in tackling the jihadi group.
Here are some of Mr Rouhani’s views, as tweeted by him (or someone from his office, unless he is an amazing multi-tasker):
To the East and West of my country, extremists threaten our neighbors, resort to violence & shed blood. 1/4 #UNGA69 #RouhaniLive
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
They donâ??t speak a single language; not of a single skin color nor a single nationality; theyâ??ve come to MidEast from around the world.2/4
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
However, they have a single ideology: â??violence & extremismâ?. They also have a single goal: â??the destruction of civilizationâ?¦ 3/4
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
â?¦giving rise to #Islamophobia & creating a fertile ground for further intervention of foreign forces in our regionâ?. 4/4
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
I deeply regret to say that #terrorism has become globalised: â??From New York to Mosul, from Damascus to Baghdad…from Al-Qaeda to Daeshâ?
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
Extremists of the world have found each other & put out the call: â??extremists of the world uniteâ?.But are we united against the extremists?!
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
Todayâ??s anti-Westernism is the offspring of yesterdayâ??s #colonialism. Todayâ??s anti-Westernism is a reaction to yesterdayâ??s #racism.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
They need to apologise not only to the past but also to the next generation.2/2
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
Terrorism germinates in poverty, unemployment, discrimination, humiliation and injustice. And it grows in the culture of violence.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
To uproot extremism, we must spread #justice & #development and disallow the distortion of divine teachings to justify brutality and cruelty
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
The pain is made greater when these terrorists spill blood in the name of religion and behead in the name of #Islam.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
Basis of all divine teachings: from Abraham, Moses& Jesus to Mohammed: taking a single innocent life is akin to killing the whole humanity.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
I’m astonished these murderous groups call themselves #Islamic. Western media repeats this false claim, which provokes hatred of all Muslims
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
Military aggression agst Afghanistan & Iraq & improper interference in Syria are clear examples of erroneous strategic approach in MidEast.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
We’ve always believed #democracy cannot be transplanted from abroad; democracy is the product of growth & development; not war & aggression.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
#Democracy is not an export product that can be commercially imported from the West to the East.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
In an underdeveloped society, imported #democracy leads only to a weak and vulnerable government.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
and fail to entrust the job to the people in the region who can deliver, tomorrow the world will be safe for no one. 2/2
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
We support any measure to promote coop b/w Islamic nations to combat extremism, threats & aggression and are prepared to play positive role.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014
We placed serious & honest negotiations on the agenda, not as a result of sanctions or threat, but rather because of the will of our people
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 25, 2014