UNIVERSITY essays written by the new President of Iran who studied in Scotland are being sought by the Pentagon.

Days after Dr Hassan Rouhani's election win on June 14, officials from the US Defence Department contacted Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).

Dr Rouhani, 64, studied in Glasgow in the 1990s and gained a Masters and PhD from the university's Law department. He would have to give his permission for the work to be made public.

GCU's principal and vice- chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies said: "I would like to congratulate our alumnus, Hassan Rouhani, on being elected president of Iran, a truly significant achievement. I hope his period as a scholar at Glasgow Caledonian University will prove beneficial as he assumes office, and I wish him every success as he works towards a positive future for Iran and its people."