Iranians take to the streets... in ecstasy: Four years after conservative clerics robbed their votes, youngsters explode with joy as reformist Hasan Rowhani wins landslide election and promises to reach out to West.
Newly elected president of Iran Hasan Rowhani called for 'rationality and moderation' after he won more than 50 per cent of the vote.
Thousands of supporters danced in the streets after Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad confirmed his victory earlier this evening.
Rowhani was the lone moderate candidate in the race and supported by reformists in a race that once appeared solidly in the hands of Tehran's Islamic establishment.
In his first statement after the results were announced, Rowhani said that 'a new opportunity has been created ... for those who truly respect democracy, interaction and free dialogue.'
He added: 'I've never been an extremist.'I support moderation. I thank God that once again rationality and moderation has shined on Iran.'
'This is the victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation and a victory of commitment over extremism.'
The vote brings an end to the eight-year era of the combative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose 2009 re-election was steeped in controversy.
Candidates seen as hard-line loyalists included current nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Khamenei adviser Ali Akbar Velayati.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, another conservative candidate who had been running far behind in second place, conceded defeat.
Rowhani has controversially vowed to follow a policy of detente and interaction with the outside world.
A victory by former nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani is seen as a setback for Iran's Islamic establishment.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement that it hoped Mr Rowhani would use his victory to engage with international concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and develop a "constructive" relationship with the wider international community.
Yesterday Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, furiously told Washington 'the hell with you' following U.S. criticism over the openness of the presidential contest.
The Ayatollah issued the stinging rebuke after casting his ballot in a race that was criticised as being rigged in favour of Tehran's ruling system.
The U.S. has issued repeated criticism of Iran's clampdowns on the opposition and the rejection of moderate voices from the ballot.
'Recently I have heard that a U.S. security official has said they do not accept this election,' Khamenei was quoted by state TV after casting his vote. 'OK, the hell with you.'
U.S State Department spokesman Jen Psaki said that while the U.S. does not think the Iranian election process is transparent, it is not discouraging the Iranian people from voting.
' We certainly encourage them to,' Psaki said. 'But certainly the history here and what happened just four years ago gives all of us pause.'
Irregularities in the vote count of the 2009 election were Ahmadinejad won led to millions of Iranians protesting the results.
Newly elected president of Iran Hasan Rowhani called for 'rationality and moderation' after he won more than 50 per cent of the vote.
Thousands of supporters danced in the streets after Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad confirmed his victory earlier this evening.
Rowhani was the lone moderate candidate in the race and supported by reformists in a race that once appeared solidly in the hands of Tehran's Islamic establishment.
In his first statement after the results were announced, Rowhani said that 'a new opportunity has been created ... for those who truly respect democracy, interaction and free dialogue.'
He added: 'I've never been an extremist.'I support moderation. I thank God that once again rationality and moderation has shined on Iran.'
'This is the victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation and a victory of commitment over extremism.'
The vote brings an end to the eight-year era of the combative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose 2009 re-election was steeped in controversy.
Candidates seen as hard-line loyalists included current nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Khamenei adviser Ali Akbar Velayati.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, another conservative candidate who had been running far behind in second place, conceded defeat.
Rowhani has controversially vowed to follow a policy of detente and interaction with the outside world.
A victory by former nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani is seen as a setback for Iran's Islamic establishment.
The British Foreign Office said in a statement that it hoped Mr Rowhani would use his victory to engage with international concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and develop a "constructive" relationship with the wider international community.
Yesterday Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, furiously told Washington 'the hell with you' following U.S. criticism over the openness of the presidential contest.
The Ayatollah issued the stinging rebuke after casting his ballot in a race that was criticised as being rigged in favour of Tehran's ruling system.
The U.S. has issued repeated criticism of Iran's clampdowns on the opposition and the rejection of moderate voices from the ballot.
'Recently I have heard that a U.S. security official has said they do not accept this election,' Khamenei was quoted by state TV after casting his vote. 'OK, the hell with you.'
U.S State Department spokesman Jen Psaki said that while the U.S. does not think the Iranian election process is transparent, it is not discouraging the Iranian people from voting.
' We certainly encourage them to,' Psaki said. 'But certainly the history here and what happened just four years ago gives all of us pause.'
Irregularities in the vote count of the 2009 election were Ahmadinejad won led to millions of Iranians protesting the results.
Iran’s golden moment | The Hindu
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