Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to take oath of office

Parliament will also vote on the new president's list of ministers

The inauguration of Iranian cleric Hassan Rouhani as president is due to take place in parliament.

Mr Rouhani, elected in June, will be sworn in before MPs and representatives of more than 50 countries, according to Iranian media.

Mr Rouhani was formally endorsed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony on Saturday.

The new president has promised reform and an end to Iran's international isolation.

It is thought likely he will present a list of ministers, which parliament will then have to approve.

There is speculation that former Tehran ambassador to the UN Mohammad Javad Zarif, who like Mr Rouhani has negotiated with the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, could be named foreign minister.

Mr Zarif is seen as a moderate.

Eleven presidents will be among those watching as Mr Rouhani takes the oath of office in parliament, the Majlis, according to state news agency Irna.
'Age-old ties'
Among those attending is senior North Korean official Kim Yong-nam, who had talks with Mr Rouhani on Saturday.

Iran and North Korea have close ties and both face opposition to their nuclear programmes from the West, though Iran has always maintained its research is for peaceful purposes only.

After the talks, Mr Rouhani "referred to the age-old, good and expanding ties between the two countries", Iran's Fars news agency reports.

Mr Rouhani, 64, used to be Iran's chief negotiator on nuclear issues and has held discussions in the past with former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is also in Tehran for the swearing-in.

Looking forward to the ceremony on his Twitter feed, Mr Solana said he had known Mr Rouhani since 2000 and advocated keeping "channels open".

Mr Rouhani officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president when he was publicly backed by the supreme leader at Saturday's ceremony.

''I have assumed this responsibility with the support of those people who want change, who want a better life, away from corruption, poverty and discrimination, people who want more respect and dignity, and hope in a secure future," Mr Rouhani said at the ceremony.

He is also backed by Iran's reform movement, which wants the new president to release political prisoners and have international sanctions, imposed because of the nuclear programme, lifted.

However, though he is president, the final say on policy issues still resides with the supreme leader.