There is widespread coverage this morning of the first public comments made yesterday by Iran’s new President Hassan Rowhani, who indicated that there would be greater openness and transparency under his leadership, but that Iran’s nuclear development would continue. The Financial Times and Guardian focuses on Rowhani’s promise of increased transparency and calls for mutual trust with the West. The Evening Standard claims that Rowhani rejected extremism during his speech while the Telegraph suggests that he could restore diplomatic relations with the UK. The Independent clarifies that Rowhani supports a continuation of Iran’s nuclear programme. Both the Times and the online edition of the Telegraph report that Iran’s former-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been issued with a court summons on unspecified charges.

There is significant commentary on Rohani’s speech yesterday. An editorial in the Guardian urges Western engagement with Rohani as does former-chancellor of the exchequer Norman Lamont writing in the Times. Meanwhile, the Telegraph publishes an exclusive interview with Israel’s President Shimon Peres who said that Iran itself is not Israel’s enemy, but that the Tehran regime is a threat.

Syria once again is also a major focus for headlines. The Independent and its’ sister publication Independent i say that Saudi Arabia has sent crucial anti-aircraft and anti-tank equipment to opposition forces. The online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report that a car bomb yesterday near Damascus killed an unspecified number of government troops. Meanwhile, Syria was the focus of discussion at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland yesterday, with the online editions of the Telegraph and Financial Times noting that US President Obama and other Western leaders failed to find common ground with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, an editorial in the Evening Standard argues that the G8 must find a formula for negotiations between the two warring sides in Syria. In the same publication, former-foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind says that arming the opposition may be the only way to force President Assad to negotiate and agree to a ceasefire. An editorial in the Times also supports arming the moderate factions within the Syrian opposition.

The Guardian online reports comments made yesterday by Israel’s Trade Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, who said that it is not possible to achieve a two-state solution. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved quickly to reiterate his commitment to reaching an agreement with the Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile, the Independent i and the Telegraph online report that the singer Barbra Streisand yesterday criticised ultra-Orthodox coercion against women in Israel during a visit to the country.

In the Israeli media, the comments made by Naftali Bennett, suggesting that a two-state solution is no longer possible is the headline in Maariv, which also focuses on the angry response of government colleagues such as Yesh Atid’s Science, Technology and Space Minister Ya’akov Peri who said that Bennett was trying to sabotage peace efforts. Other ministers, including Tzipi Livni and Amir Peretz also expressed their opposition to Bennett’s views.

There is also significant coverage of new Iranian President Hassan Rowhani’s public speech yesterday. Israel Hayom emphasises his commitment to continuing uranium enrichment. Meanwhile, Haaretz speculates that the election of Rowhani, perceived as a man that the West can deal with, could see a decision over Israeli military action against Iranian nuclear facilities delayed until 2014. Makor Rishon quotes an unnamed Israeli minister who said that Rowhani’s election is the perfect excuse for those who wish to do nothing about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Israel Radio news reports that the budget passed its’ first reading in the Knesset last night, by a vote of 58 in favour, 44 against. It must now pass Finance Committee scrutiny and two further Knesset votes.