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Profile: Mohammad Khatami Profile: Mohammad Khatami
(about 1 hour later)
Khatami marks Revolution Day in February 2002 Mr Khatami previously served as president from 1997-2005
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami came to power amidst promises of reform.

Mohammad Khatami, who has announced he will run for re-election as president of Iran after a gap of four years, served in the post for eight years.
But with many of his initiatives foundering on conservative resistance, he has looked increasingly embattled.

During that period, many of his reformist initiatives foundered on conservative resistance.
When Iran's Council of Guardians barred hundreds of reformists from standing in the February 2004 parliamentary elections, the president backed the reformists.

 Since stepping down in August 2005, he has continued to advocate reform while remaining highly critical of US foreign policy towards his country.
"I do not agree with the disqualifications. We shall go through legal channels to prevent this sort of thing from happening," he said on Iranian TV.

The son of a respected ayatollah, Mohammad Khatami was born in central Yazd Province in 1943.
The son of a respected ayatollah, Mohammad Khatami was born in central Yazd Province in 1943.

His previous posts included two terms as minister of culture and Islamic guidance, cultural adviser to his predecessor, former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, and head of Iran's National Library.
His previous posts included two terms as minister of culture and Islamic guidance, cultural adviser to his predecessor, former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, and head of Iran's National Library.

Democracy is not something to get exported Mohammad Khatami speaking to BBC in 2006 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6108798.stm">Khatami labels US policy 'a joke'
He won a landslide victory in the 1997 presidential election. His campaign pledges included greater freedom of expression, as well as measures to tackle unemployment and boost privatisation.

 He won a landslide victory in the 1997 presidential election. His campaign pledges included greater freedom of expression, as well as measures to tackle unemployment and boost privatisation.
His victory was attributed largely to support from young people and women, impressed by his vision of "religious democracy".

 His victory was attributed largely to support from young people and women, impressed by his vision of "religious democracy".
President Khatami's first term ushered in some liberalisation, exemplified by a renaissance of the print media and improved relations with states inside and outside the region.

 President Khatami's first term ushered in some liberalisation, exemplified by a renaissance of the print media and improved relations with states inside and outside the region.
In January 1998 he held out the prospect of rapprochement with the United States, by addressing the American nation on CNN to stress that Iran had "no hostility" towards them.

In January 1998 he held out the prospect of rapprochement with the US, by addressing the American nation on CNN to stress that Iran had "no hostility" towards them.
In September 1998, the president addressed the UN General Assembly to propose that it declare 2001 the year of "Dialogue among Civilisations". The proposal, aimed at fostering global tolerance, was duly adopted.

 In September 1998, the president addressed the UN General Assembly to propose that it declare 2001 the year of "Dialogue among Civilisations". The proposal, aimed at fostering global tolerance, was duly adopted.
Calls to resign

 'Islamic democracy'
Yet his attempt to implement "Islamic democracy" at home found itself blocked by the country's conservative institutions. The initial blossoming of the media was followed by newspaper closures and the arrest of journalists.

 Yet his attempt to implement "Islamic democracy" at home found itself blocked by the country's conservative institutions. The initial blossoming of the media was followed by newspaper closures and the arrest of journalists.
Despite these setbacks and economic woes compounded by the fall in the oil price, President Khatami went on to win a second term in 2001. Though the turnout was lower than in 1997, his percentage of the vote rose.

 Our students have the right to stage their protests and, fortunately, they have demonstrated their maturity Mohammad Khatami		 Our students have the right to stage their protests and, fortunately, they have demonstrated their maturity Mohammad Khatami
Frustrated by the obstacles to his reforms, he submitted a bill aimed at boosting presidential power, and another curbing the role of the Guardian Council, which has to approve all legislation.

Despite these setbacks and economic woes compounded by the fall in the oil price, Mr Khatami went on to win a second term in 2001. Though the turnout was lower than in 1997, his percentage of the vote rose.
The bills were overwhelmingly approved by parliament in April 2003, but rejected by the Council as unconstitutional in May. Reformist MPs have suggested that the bills be put to a referendum - or that the president resign in protest.

Frustrated by the obstacles to his reforms, he submitted a bill aimed at boosting presidential power, and another curbing the role of the Guardian Council, which has to approve all legislation.
In May 2003 an open letter signed by 153 deputies was read out in parliament, urging conservatives to give way to reforms. Otherwise, the letter says, Iran could face the same fate as Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

 The bills were overwhelmingly approved by parliament in April 2003 but rejected by the Council as unconstitutional in May.
When students, once the president's natural constituency, took to the streets in June 2003 over the slow pace of reform, they called for his resignation along with that of hardliners.

 In May 2003 an open letter signed by 153 deputies was read out in parliament, urging conservatives to give way to reforms. Otherwise, the letter says, Iran could face the same fate as Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
In televised remarks, he defended the students' action.

 When students, once the president's natural constituency, took to the streets in June 2003 over the slow pace of reform, they called for his resignation along with that of hardliners.
"Our students have the right to stage their protests and, fortunately, they have demonstrated their maturity in so doing," he said.

 In televised remarks, he defended the students' action: "Our students have the right to stage their protests and, fortunately, they have demonstrated their maturity in so doing."
But he also reacted to President Bush's comment that the protests showed Iranians wanted freedom with a warning:

 But he also reacted to US President George W Bush's comment that the protests showed Iranians wanted freedom with a warning: "We will not allow any foreigner to interfere in our destiny."
"We will not allow any foreigner to interfere in our destiny."

 Moderate voice
href="http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk">BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.

 In 2005, he left office, having served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the Iranian constitution.
He was succeeded by an ultra-conservative, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose questioning of the Holocaust has consistently caused controversy in the West.
In 2006, Mr Khatami told the BBC that US attempts to impose Western-style democracy in the Middle East were a "joke".
He added that he was committed to fighting extremism around the world.
While he has defended Iran's pursuit of civilian nuclear energy, he has conceded that the outside world does have legitimate worries which need assuaging.
The moderate tone of his comments contrasted starkly with the strident talk of President Ahmadinejad.