TEHRAN (Iran News)  In a televised interview on Saturday night, Pezeshkian addressed the Iranian nation for the first time since assuming office late last month.

“We are prepared to listen to what the people have to say and speak to them,” he said, pledging to stay committed to his electoral promises, respect honesty, and do whatever in his capacity towards the nation’s prosperity.

“As I stated from the beginning, I will not give a pledge that I would not be able to act on,” the president asserted, Press TV reported.

Pezeshkian underlined the need for the adoption of a forward-looking approach as well as the importance of solidarity and consensus in the path ahead.

The president noted that the country was suffering from intense sanctions imposed by the United States as well as many European countries and other states that follow Washington’s lead, but said attempting to resolve the people’s issues “does not have anything to do with the (existing) sanctions.”

Pezeshkian said one of his administration’s plans for controlling inflation consisted of the expansion of economic interaction with the outside world within the framework of the country’s seventh national development plan.

The president said his plan was aimed at reducing the inflation to 30 percent by the end of the year, noting, however, that realization of this goal depended in part on the course of pending domestic and international developments.

He also underlined the need for resolution of existing imbalances affecting the country’s energy and banking sectors.

The president said his administration would devise a “supervisory mechanism” monitoring various ministries’ commitment to existing regulations and plans.

He underscored endeavor towards enhancement of gender, ethnic, healthcare, and educational equality throughout the country.

The president said his administration would try to reduce differences of opinion concerning the components of the country’s foreign policy.

His administration’s foreign policy envisioned a resolution of the standing issues between Iran and other countries, including the Islamic Republic’s neighbors, he said, asserting, “Muslims are brothers with one another and should be united in the face of the enemies.”

“We have engaged in negotiations with around 40 countries, and are in the process of concluding agreements with them,” Pezeshkian noted.