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Rowhani: Winner of Iran’s Presidential Elections Considered a “Moderate”

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An alleged “moderate cleric” Hassan Rowhani was declared the winner of the Iranian presidential election, as he succeeds Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
An alleged “moderate cleric” Hassan Rowhani was declared the winner of the Iranian presidential election, as he succeeds Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran’s interior minister, Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, has declared moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani the winner of the nation’s presidential election, in a surprise victory over the nation’s ruling hardliners.

Rowhani – the favorite of reformists and a former chief nuclear negotiator – received close to 19 million votes out of nearly 37 million counted. He secured slightly more than 50 percent of the vote, eliminating the need for a runoff. His closest competitor, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, trailed far behind, with about 16 percent of the vote.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated Rowhani and encouraged Iranian authorities and the president-elect to play a “constructive role” in regional and international affairs.

The United States also congratulated the Iranian people for their participation in the election, with White House press secretary Jay Carney saying the Obama administration respects the vote. But Carney’s statement pointed out that the election took place against what he described as “government obstacles and limitations,” including a lack of transparency, censorship of the media and an intimidating security environment.

Carney said the U.S. hopes the Iranian government will heed its people’s will and make choices that create a better future for them. He reiterated the U.S. willingness to engage Iran directly to reach a diplomatic solution to concerns over its nuclear program.

About 50 million Iranians were eligible to vote in last Friday’s election, putting the turnout at above 70 percent.

This is Iran’s first presidential vote since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election in 2009 spawned widespread protests and a bloody crackdown by the government. President Ahmadinejad was constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term.

Analysts say high interest in the carefully orchestrated campaign may have been due to Rowhani’s candidacy.

As president-elect, Rowhani will prepare to take on an economy struggling with high unemployment and inflation and crippled by international sanctions over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Excluding Rowhani, most of the six candidates vying for the presidency were considered hardliners loyal to the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rowhani is also said to have a close relationship with Mr. Khamenei.

While the new president-elect has vowed to improve ties with the international community, the election outcome is unlikely to significantly alter Iran’s relationship with the rest of the world, as major policy decisions rest with the supreme Islamic leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Sunday, June 16, thousands of Rowhani’s supporters celebrated in the streets of Tehran, as the president-elect hailed his win in the country’s election as a victory over “extremism.”

In his first public statement since Friday’s vote, the reformist cleric called his election a victory of moderation and intelligence over extremism.

Many analysts see Rowhani’s surprise victory as a popular repudiation of the conservative hardliners in the race.

Rowhani, a former chief nuclear negotiator and the favorite of reformists, earned slightly more than 50 percent of the vote – close to 19 million out of nearly 37 million counted. His closest competitor among five other candidates was Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who received about 16 percent of the vote.

Rowhani will take on an economy struggling with high unemployment and inflation, and crippled by international sanctions for the country’s disputed nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday cautioned the international community not to ease sanctions on Iran because of “wishful thinking” following Rowhani’s election. He called Iran’s alleged pursuit of atomic weapons the “greatest threat to world peace,” and pointed out that Iran’s supreme leader, not the president, is the person who determines nuclear policy.

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