Kamal Kharrazi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, says his country is "a modern model of an Islamic state", combining as it does democracy with Islamic values. Many of the public bodies in the country are elected directly or indirectly, and individuals are encouraged to exercise a balance between freedom and social responsibility. The Expediency Council is active in mediating between Parliament and the Council of Guardians (in which religious lawyers have the upper hand). Kharrazi believes that Iran has been misunderstood by the West, but in recent years relations have developed with President Khatami's new emphasis on "détente, dialogue and cooperation".