TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's new president says his countrymen elected him to bring about a change in foreign policy and shift away from the bombastic style pursued under his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Hasan Rouhani said his government will change tactics rather than principles in order to reach out to the world and interact with, rather than confront, major powers.

Rouhani made the comments during the inauguration of Iran's new Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, a U.S.-educated veteran diplomat with a doctorate in international law and policy from the University of Denver.

Rouhani has pledged to improve an economy ravaged by international sanctions by empowering technocrats and mending relations with the world. He took the oath of office on Aug. 4. Iran's parliament approved all but three of his proposed ministers Thursday.