Supporters of Hassan Rowhani celebrate after the official announcement of his victory, in Tehran, yesterday.
TEHRAN: Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani was declared Iran’s new president yesterday, ending eight years of conservative grip on the top office in a victory cheered in the streets and cautiously welcomed by world powers.
Tens of thousands of jubilant Iranians took to the streets of Tehran, toting pictures of 64-year-old Rowhani and chanting pro-reform slogans as news of his victory spread. “I see happiness in the city after eight years. I see it on the faces of my people,” said Sahar, a 27-year-old pro-reform university student as she marched with a crowd in the centre of the city.
In his first statement after being declared outright winner with 50.68 percent of votes cast in Friday’s vote, Rowhani called on world powers to treat Iran with respect and recognise its rights, in an apparent allusion to its controversial nuclear policy.
“This is a victory of intelligence, of moderation, of progress... over extremism,” Rowhani said.
“A new opportunity has been created by this great epic, and the nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic republic,” he said.
Then they will “hear an appropriate response,” he added.
Rowhani, a former top nuclear negotiator who has championed more constructive engagement with world powers, won outright against five conservative candidates with 18.6 million votes, Interior Minister Mohammad Mostafa Najjar said.
Rowhani’s tally was enough to ensure there would be no run-off against the runner-up, Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who came a distant second with 6.07 million votes. AFP
