Reformist Hassan Rohani has won Iran’s 11th presidential election by a landslide win, the results in on 14 June, 2013. The announcement brought the Tehran population into the streets in jubilation. Clearly this is what the majority wants, change, and that’s what this renown cleric and politician proposes. In his first declaration to the public he asked for co-operation from all quarters saying the way forward is by way of an integrated process of continuing development.

For the details of the election Pressenza republishes Iran Review’s (Tehran) article, by permission.

See:
http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Rohani-Takes-Early-Lead-Qalibaf-in-2nd.htm

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced on Saturday that of a total of 36,704,156 valid ballots counted, Rohani won 50.70 percent of the ballots with 18,613,329 votes.

Principlist candidate Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf came in behind Rohani by a wide margin, winning 6,077,292 votes. He conveyed his congratulations to Rohani on his victory.

Principlist Saeed Jalili won 4,168,946 votes, and independent Mohsen Rezaei 3,884,412 votes. Principlist Ali-Akbar Velayati and independent Mohammad Gharazi ranked at the bottom of the list, with 2,268,753 and 446,015 votes, respectively.

A total of 1,245,409 ballots were declared invalid.

Nearly 50.5 million Iranians, including more than 1.6 million first-time voters, were eligible to participate in the June 14 elections. The Interior Ministry put voter turnout at 72.7 percent.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has congratulated the Iranian people and the president-elect, Hassan Rohani, hailing people’s dazzling turnout in the presidential election.

In a message issued on Saturday, the Leader noted that the great nation of Iran is the real winner of the election, adding that the vote nullified plots of all ill-wishers.

Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed that the president-elect is president of the Iranian nation, noting that cooperation and friendship must replace rivalry of these days.

Rohani’s rivals including Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, former Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Velayati and Secretary of the Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili congratulated Rohani on his victory.

Former presidential candidate Mohammad-Reza Aref, who withdrew from the race on Tuesday in favor of the reformist camp, also felicitated Rohani.

Another former presidential candidate Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, who withdrew his bid for presidency on Monday, also felicitated Rohani following his victory.

Hassan Rohani’s Biography
The newly-elected Iranian president was born into a religious family on November 13, 1948 in the city of Sorkheh in Semnan Province.

Rohani started his religious education in 1960 at Semnan Seminary. One year later, he moved to the holy city of Qom. In 1969, he was admitted into Tehran University and received his BA in law after three years. Rohani earned his MA and PhD in law from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Rohani was involved in the struggle against the Pahlavi regime as a young man. After the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini’s return from exile in France in 1979, Rohani was politically active in Europe. He held question-and-answer sessions with students in Britain and France.

Rohani was elected to parliament following the establishment of the Islamic Republic and served as a lawmaker for five consecutive terms until 2000. He held positions such as deputy Majlis Speaker and head of the Defense and Foreign Policy committees.

During the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war, Rohani served as member of the High Council of Defense, commander of the Iran Air Defense and deputy commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

Rohani currently represents Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in the Supreme National Security Council, and is member of the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts. He is also President of the Expediency Council’s Center for Strategic Research.

Rohani speaks fluent English, Arabic and Persian and has written nearly 100 books and articles as well as conducting 700 different research projects.

President-elect Rohani thanks Iranians for huge turnout

Iran’s President-elect Hassan Rohani has thanked the Iranian people for their huge turnout in the June 14 elections.

Rohani also offered special thanks to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and other top religious figures.

Rohani said people’s meaningful and effective participation in the vote was in response to the Leader’s demand.

The election bore witness to the unity of Iranians, said the president-elect, adding the Iranian people were undoubtedly the winners of the election.

Ahmadinejad congratulates Rohani on Iran election victory

In a message on Saturday, incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Iranian nation and the president-elect on the important June 14 election.

“I have always deeply believed in the vast and endless capacities of the Iranian nation for development and [achieving] greatness,” Ahmadinejad said in his message.

“I believe that all peaks of glory can be conquered by believing and trusting in the Iranian nation and by respecting different interests and tastes,” the Iranian president added.

Foreign countries have responded to the victory of Hassan Rohani in Iran’s presidential ballot held on Friday, June 14.

The US government said on Saturday that it respected the results of the election. White House Spokesman Jay Carney expressed hope the Iranian government would “make responsible choices” for a better future.

The French Foreign Ministry also praised Iranian people’s resolve in attending the elections.
A statement by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France was ready to work with Rohani on the Iranian nuclear program and the Syria conflict.

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Office called on the president-elect to set Iran on a different course. It urged Rohani to lead Iran toward a constructive relationship with the international community.

European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton pointed out that the EU was committed to working with Rohani on Iran’s nuclear issue.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai also congratulated Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation on Rohani’s election win. Karzai called for further expansion of bilateral ties under the new Iranian administration.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt also said his country needed interaction with Iran.

UN chief congratulates Iran’s President-elect Rohani.

The UN secretary general has extended his congratulations to Iran’s President-elect Hojjatoleslam Hassan Rohani on winning the recent presidential election.

“The secretary general has been closely following up the 11th presidential election in Iran held on June 14th and notes with satisfaction the reported high turnout,” a spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon said in a Saturday statement.

“He extends his warm congratulations to Mr. Hassan Rohani,” the statement added. The statement highlighted Ban’s determination to engage with the Iranian authorities and Rohani “on issues of importance to the international community and welfare of the Iranian nation.”
The statement further called on Iran to play a “constructive role in regional and international affairs.”