Although he likely meant to touch upon a vast array of issues of concern to Iranians, President Hassan Rouhani couldn't help but focus on Donald Trump's recent offer of talks and on Iran's economic problems during his live interview on state TV on Aug. 6.

Almost all Iranian newspapers covered the interview on their front pages the next day, with headlines focusing on the parts of the interview that best matched their editorial lines. Papers representing the pro-reform camp such as Aftab, Etemad and Shargh highlighted the president's comments on holding referendums to settle major domestic disputes, as enshrined in Article 59 of the Iranian Constitution.

Rouhani sparked controversy earlier this year in a speech on the anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution by unearthing the same proposal. At that time, the move was met with a backlash of fury from conservative clerics and media.

“Rouhani spoke with calm, responded to Trump and went deep down to the roots of the current problems gripping Iran’s economy.” That’s how the Reformist Hamdeli paper described Rouhani’s remarks.