Spokesperson for the United States Department of State Jen Psaki has said they saw Rowhani's election as a promising sign.
In a press conference, Psaki said " White House Chief of Staff Denis Mcdonough said Rowhani's election is potentially promising sign. Kerry thinks so. However, there are too many steps to be taken by Iranian leaders to perceive Iran's international obligations" related to Iran’s newly elected president Hassan Rowhani.
Upon a question about Rowhani's Syria policy that is unlikely to change the current status quo, Psaki said "It is not a surprise for us. There are too many differences between the US and Iran about Syria issue and we repeatedly expressed our concerns about Iran's aid of foreign fighters, including Hezbollah, to Syria."
Rowhani was declared the president-elect on Saturday after winning 50.7 percent of more than 36 million votes cast. He takes office in August.
- North Korea's proposal of high-level talks with U.S
Psaki said North Korea's proposal of high-level talks did not contain new things an added:
"The United States has said that, in order for it to engage in talks, North Korea would have to show a serious commitment to moving away from its nuclear program."
If new talks actually happen, it will be the second senior-level meeting between the US and North Korea since Kim Jong Un took power.
The first talks were in February 2012, when North Korea's first vice minister, Kim Kye Gwan, held talks in Beijing with Glyn Davies, the US envoy for North Korea policy.
At the time, North Korea agreed to stop nuclear activity at its main facility in Yongbyon and impose a moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches in exchange for 240,000 tons of food assistance.
However, the agreement fell apart after the UN imposed sanctions in response to North Korea's failed long-range rocket launch in April 2012.
