( CNN ) -- Watch Amanpour 's interview with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on CNN International on Wednesday at 14:00 ET / 20:00 CET . For the first time in its 34-year history , the Islamic Republic of Iran is approaching the West with a unified voice to save its sanction-afflicted economy . President Hassan Rouhani made a series of overtures ahead of his trip to New York this week in an effort to end Iran 's nuclear row with the West . Rouhani and his foreign minister , Javad Zarif , sent Rosh Hashanah greetings to Jews worldwide to take the edge off the comments made by former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , who had repeatedly called the Holocaust a myth . In an interview with NBC news last week , Rouhani stressed that Iran would never `` build weapons of mass destruction , including nuclear weapons '' and announced that he had `` complete authority '' to make a deal with the West . And finally last week , he wrote a piece in the Washington Post , calling directly for `` constructive engagement . '' His conciliatory gestures are meaningful only in light of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 's statement last week , declaring that it was time to end the country 's diplomatic dispute . Khamenei has the final word on state matters and had blocked previous governments from engagement with the West . For over two decades , he labeled `` compromise '' as a sign of weakness . But in a clear policy shift , he backed Rouhani 's efforts and called for `` heroic leniency , '' suggesting that a series of internal and external challenges have brought the change . Rouhani was elected in July on a mandate to save the country 's dying economy and increase social and political liberties . The country 's crude oil revenue has dropped more than 50 % since 2011 under U.S.-led sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran over its controversial nuclear program . Devaluation of the Rial , Iran 's currency , has quadrupled since 2009 and inflation soured this month to more than 39 % , according to Iranian Central Bank . Iran has no access to its assets in foreign accounts because of the sanctions and the country 's gas and oil infrastructure have suffered under the restrictions . Iranian leaders are aware that economic pressure is increasing the public anger and fear that it could lead to a repeat of the massive demonstrations of 2009 , when millions of people protested what they believed was a fraudulent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . The regime used violence to crush those protests but watched warily as political upheavals unfolded in Egypt , Tunisia and Bahrain . Now Iran is losing its only political ally in the region -- President Bashar al-Assad of Syria . For years , Syria has been Iran 's crucial link to Hezbollah , Iran 's feared arm in the Middle East that brought significant regional power for Iran . Assad 's demise , would dash Iran 's hopes of becoming a major regional player . Iranians are reasonably optimistic this time that President Rouhani can ease the sanctions and lift some of political pressures at home . The Rial , the local currency , strengthened by 25 % against the U.S. dollar this week , indicating high levels of hope before Rouhani 's trip . The regime also released 80 activists who had been jailed since the protests in 2009 . Prominent political leaders still remain behind bars , which reminded people not to have high expectations . Rouhani was elected in a semi-democratic election to restore some of the regime 's lost legitimacy while posing no serious threat to Khamenei 's leadership . The regime barred liberal candidates with large support base from entering the race but unlike 2009 , it went ahead and counted the votes cast for Rouhani . Rouhani had sided with Khamenei during the country 's first pro-democracy uprising in 1999 that led to brutal repression of the student movement . He emerged in the presidential race this year as a moderate , indicating the depth of change within the regime . Rouhani had served as Iran 's first nuclear negotiator and in 2003 signed the Additional Protocol that allowed the United Nations ' nuclear inspectors visit Iran 's nuclear sites . As Iranian analyst Nasser Hadian argued this month , Rouhani `` knows how to navigate the corridors of power in Iran '' and formulate a strategy out of the current diplomatic impasse . He is a trusted politician who has known Khamenei for 40 years and served as his representative on the Supreme National Security Council for 25 years . `` His insider status is an asset rather than a liability , '' Hadian wrote . Khamenei backed Rouhani 's diplomatic efforts this month during a meeting with members of the Revolutionary Guards Corps -- a hard-line military force that has historically opposed engagement with the West . Khamenei also urged the force not to interfere in politics , a shift from previous years that would be crucial to avoid derailing Rouhani 's efforts .
Rouhani was elected on a mandate to save Iran 's dying economy and increase political liberties , writes Fathi . Iranian leaders are aware that economic pressure is increasing the public anger , she says . Comment: Fathi says Rouhani 's relationship with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is an asset .