No change in foreign policy's principles: Iranian president

Iran will not change principles of its foreign policy, the country's newly-elected President Hassan Rouhani has said.

"In the recent election, people demanded revisions in foreign policy, but it does not mean abandoning principles," reported Xinhua citing the president Saturday, while adding "However, methods should be changed".

He made the remarks during a ceremony held for the inauguration of new Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, whose qualification was endorsed by the Majlis (parliament) Thursday.

Zarif has been Iran's ambassador to the UN from 2002 to 2007, and a member of country's nuclear negotiating team from 2003 to 2005.

Rouhani's words were an allusion to the passionate and provocative rhetoric of officials in Iranian foreign ministry and in country's administration under former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that was against the US and its ally Israel.

"At present, foreign policy is the key to our problems," he said, emphasising that "any words (about international issues) should be rational, precise and logical."

"Foreign policy is not the locus for slogans and verses, it is a field where international incidents should be comprehended exactly," he said. "Any mistake in foreign policy will be costly for the people."