Hasan Rohani has been declared Iran’s new president, the interior minister said, in an outright election victory. Rohani hailed his election as a “victory of moderation over extremism. This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity over extremism,” said Rohani.
Rohani, 64, a former top nuclear negotiator who has championed more constructive engagement with world powers, won outright with 18.6 million votes, or 50.68 per cent of those cast. Announcing Rohani’s win, Interior Minister Mohammad Mostafa Najjar said 36.7 million people, or 72.7 per cent of the electorate, had voted.
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a cable of greetings to Rohani on his victory. Sheikh Khalifa lauded the successful outcome of the electoral process in Iran, wishing the new president success and the Iranian people further progress and prosperity. “We look forward to working with you for the good of the region and the peoples of the UAE and Iran. We are keen to maintain relations based on mutual cooperation,” he added.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also sent congratulatory messages to Rohani.
