Among responsibilities shouldered by him in the post-revolution era was leadership of the supervisory council of the Islamic Republic Broadcasting (IRIB) from 1980 to 1983. In July 1983, while Rouhani was heading the council, the council members and Rouhani had conflicts with Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani the then head of IRIB, which led to the temporary replacement of Hashemi by first Rouhani and then immediately Mohammad Javad Larijani.
The conflict was resolved by the Ayatollah Khomeini intervening and insisting on Rafsanjani staying as the head of IRIB. His reputation as a skilled negotiator and moderate made him a central figure in national security and foreign policy landscape. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, aimed at lifting sanctions in exchange for limits on nuclear program. Efforts to stabilize economy, though results were heavily impacted by renewed U.S. sanctions after withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018. A more open social and cultural climate, though significant reform remained constrained by political system.
