Iran Elections: Iranians Vote for the Islamic Republic’s Next President
Friday's presidential election in Iran is unlikely to bring significant change to the Islamic republic, whose supreme leader has ensured hard-line candidates dominate the field. But the sole moderate could upset the race. Reuters World brings you live coverage of the elections, including in-depth reporting, analysis, photography, interactive graphics, video and more for this event.
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Moderate Rohani wins Iran presidential election in landslide
Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani won Iran's presidential election on Saturday, the interior ministry said, scoring a surprising landslide victory over conservative hardliners without the need of a second round run-off.
Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced on state television that Rohani secured just over 50 percent of the ballot based on a 72 percent turnout of 50 million eligible voters. "Mr Hassan Rohani ... got the absolute majority of votes and was elected as president," Najjar said.
The outcome will not soon transform Iran's long tense relations with the West, call into question its disputed pursuit of nuclear power or lessen its support of Syria's president in the civil war there - matters of national security that remain the domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But the president runs the economy and wields important influence in decision-making and Rohani's meteoric rise could offer latitude for a thaw in Iran's foreign relations and more social freedoms at home after eight years of confrontation and repression under hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
Though an establishment figure, Rohani is a former chief nuclear negotiator known for his nuanced, conciliatory approach. He has pledged to promote a policy of "constructive interaction with the world" and to enact a domestic "civil rights charter".Further reading:Profile of Hassan Rohani, Iran's president-electIran's electorate lays down blunt message for changeRights groups criticize Iran for pre-election harassment
Timeline of recent events in Iran
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Shops in central Tehran close as crowds getting bigger.by Najmeh Bozorgmehr via twitter 6/15/2013 4:25:16 PM -
چهار راه ولیعصیر
ashkangiplasi در Instagram #انتخابات #روحانی #Iran #IranElection
pic.twitter.com/lYEEFzdJzEby Vahid Online via twitter 6/15/2013 4:25:43 PM -
Speculations rife in Iran opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi to be released from house arrest, journalists sayby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:28:50 PM -
I just left the Rowhani street party, supreme leader Khamenei congratulates president elect.by Thomas Erdbrink via twitter 6/15/2013 4:37:49 PM -
Useful Google doc: all numbers that you need about the #IranElection results 2013: http://ow.ly/m478E by @aminsabeti #Iran #Rouhaniby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:40:53 PM
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A woman says we all voted 4 one candidate - Jalili - not to be elected unlike other countries whereu vote 4 one 2 be electedby Najmeh Bozorgmehr via twitter 6/15/2013 4:43:10 PM
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Picture: Celebrations in the western city of Tabriz: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BM0J7QsCQAI6KwY.jpg via @Vahid #Iran #Rouhani
by Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:43:40 PM -
British @foreignoffice issues statement calling on Rouhani to take forward a "constructive relationship" with the international communityby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:46:18 PM
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Reports of street victory celebrations in #Tehran, people distributing sweets and flowers. #Iranelectionby Rana Rahimpour via twitter 6/15/2013 4:51:59 PM -
British @foreignoffice refrains from congratulating Iran on election results, calling on Rouhani to bring "different course" to its futureby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:52:08 PM
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میدان ولیعصر
anonymousjpg در Instagram #انتخابات #روحانی #Iran #IranElection
pic.twitter.com/dpKip35wsLby Vahid Online via twitter 6/15/2013 4:52:49 PM -
#Rouhani has won Iran's presidential election, securing over 50% of the vote and so avoiding the need for a run-off.by Hassan Rouhani via twitter 6/15/2013 4:53:12 PM -
"Ahmadi bye bye," people chant in celebration of election results: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BM0NRkLCYAA6FFZ.jpg via @vahid #Iran
by Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:56:11 PM -
RT @IranWire1: Cell phone service up, BBC Persian and VOA Persian broadcasts not being blocked: http://bit.ly/143vQfG #Iran #Rouhaniby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 4:57:12 PM
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Video: RT @Zealous_Iranian: Iranians genuinely seem happy. Hasn't been like this in a while: http://bit.ly/19agmcZ #Iran #Rouhaniby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 5:01:07 PM
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#Iran's Ahmadinejad congratulates president-elect @HassanRouhani on his winby Ladane Nasseri via twitter 6/15/2013 5:12:45 PM -
My latest: Hassan Rouhani wins #Iran's presidential election: http://gu.com/p/3gtze/tw via @guardianby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 5:28:57 PM
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#Iran Supreme Leader issued a congratulatory statement following the announcement of the presidential elections' results, state TV reports.by Rana Rahimpour via twitter 6/15/2013 5:34:05 PM
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An outbreak of reasonableness in Tehran: Top ten conclusions from Iran’s early election returns: http://bit.ly/11GJeEy via @jricole #Iranby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 5:35:22 PM
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Ayatollah #Khamenei in a statement congratulate to #Rouhani.by Mehr News Agency via twitter 6/15/2013 5:35:56 PM -
#Iran's President-elect #Rowhani: "This is a victory of wisdom, moderation, progress, awareness, commitment and religiosity over extremism "by Rana Rahimpour via twitter 6/15/2013 5:36:26 PM
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UPDATE 7-Moderate Rohani wins Iran presidential election in landslide
By Zahra Hosseinian and Yeganeh Torbati
DUBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani won Iran's presidential election on Saturday, the interior ministry said, scoring a surprising landslide victory over conservative hardliners without the need for a second round run-off.
The outcome will not soon transform Iran's long tense relations with the West, resolve an international crisis over its pursuit of nuclear power or lessen its support of Syria's president in the civil war there - matters of national security that remain the domain of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But the president runs the economy and wields important influence in decision-making. Rohani's resounding election mandate could provide latitude for a diplomatic thaw with the West and more social freedoms at home after eight years of belligerence and repression under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was legally barred from seeking a third consecutive term.
Celebratory crowds assembled near Rohani's headquarters in downtown Tehran a few hours before his victory was confirmed.
"Long live reform, long live Rohani," chanted the throngs, according to witnesses at the scene.
"Ahmadi, bye bye," they added in reference to Ahmadinejad, another witness there said.
Others flashed the victory sign and chanted slogans in favour of Mirhossein Mousavi, who reformist supporters believe was robbed of the 2009 election by what they say was vote rigging to return Ahmadinejad to office. -
Picture: Celebrations in Tehran's Fatemi street after #Iran election results via @vahid: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BM0XOsNCUAAfpMv.jpg
by Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 5:37:39 PM -
#Hassan_Rouhani was born in 1948 in Sorkheh, near Semnan. #Iran #Iranelectionby Mehr News Agency via twitter 6/15/2013 5:37:47 PM
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I haven't been this happy in four years. I feel that we finally managed to achieve a part of what we have been fighting for since the past elections. They finally respected our vote. This is a victory for reforms and all of us as reformists.
-Mina, in Tehran, told Reuters by phone in between tears -
Here is the link to Reuters' latest story on the results of the Iranian presidential elections: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/15/us-iran-election-idUSBRE95C1E120130615
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#Hasan_Rowhani is said to be a polyglot, fluent in English, German, French, Russian and Arabic, along with his native Persian. #Iranby Mehr News Agency via twitter 6/15/2013 5:45:30 PM
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As a young cleric #Hasan_Rowhani started his political activities by following Ayatollah Khomeini. #Iran #Iranelectionby Mehr News Agency via twitter 6/15/2013 5:46:34 PM
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We are edging towards the end of our Iran election coverage for tonight as well as this live blog. We will have an analysis out soon on what Rohani's landslide means for Iran. Really glad you all have been with us and hope you've enjoyed reading our coverage.
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Street Celebrations 💜 #iran13 #iran92 #iranelection #iranpresidentialelection #rouhani
by Zahra Z via Instagram 6/15/2013 5:52:09 PM -
بازار #زنجان
alirezamalihi در Instagram #انتخابات #روحانی #Iran #IranElection #Rouhani #Roohani pic.twitter.com/wXdnAzsLq8by Vahid Online via twitter 6/15/2013 6:02:05 PM -
At Vali-e Asr crossing people waving purple flags from their cars, absolute happy chaosby Thomas Erdbrink via twitter 6/15/2013 6:04:03 PM
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Tehran is out in full force this evening, "we are celebrating that we are free after 8 years of Ahmadinejad"by Thomas Erdbrink via twitter 6/15/2013 6:04:10 PM
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Now many #Rouhani's fans are in streets.by Mehr News Agency via twitter 6/15/2013 6:10:03 PM
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ANALYSIS-Iran moderate's poll triumph is mandate for change
By Marcus George
DUBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Iranian voters weary of years of economic isolation and tightening political restrictions threw down a blunt demand for change on Saturday by handing a moderate cleric a landslide victory in a presidential election.
Having waited throughout Friday night and most of Saturday, millions of Iranians at home and abroad greeted Hassan Rohani’s victory with a mix of euphoria and relief that eight years under hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were finally over.
That Rohani, a former nuclear negotiator, trounced hardline "Principlist" rivals most loyal to the theocratic system and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Friday's contest left many in the Islamic Republic in shock.
A second surprise was that the country's first presidential poll since a disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009 appeared to be free and fair.
His victory goes some way to repairing the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic, badly damaged four years ago when the disputed poll led to mass unrest. And it may herald an increase in political space for the sort of reformist groups which bore the brunt of the security crackdown that ended the disturbances. -
Rohani's upset victory has effectively redeemed Iran's electoral system, which was tainted after the 2009 presidential poll. Remember that Iran is governed by complex institutions and competing power centres that inherently favour continuity over radical change.
-Ali Vaez, of the International Crisis Group -
The defeat of the Principlists was necessary. The Principlist current must understand that one cannot be inefficient and expect the people to still support them in throngs.
-An editorial on the Tabnak news website affiliated to Mohsen Rezaie, a conservative election candidate and former head of the Revolutionary Guards who came fourth in the election. -
RT @C4NForeign: Huge traffic jam on chamran highway running north - many cars full of people heading to vanak and tajrish to celebrate #iranby Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 6:24:24 PM
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Marcus George took a look at what Rohani's resounding win might mean inside Iran: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/15/us-iran-election-victory-analysis-idUSBRE95E0G520130615
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Picture: Jubilant campaigners celebrating in the central city of Arak after #Iran election results @vahid #Rouhani: http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BM0keb9CYAAyizS.jpg
by Saeed Kamali Dehghan via twitter 6/15/2013 6:35:31 PM -
Arabs put (slim) hopes in new Iranian president
By Alastair Macdonald and Angus McDowall
CAIRO/RIYADH, June 15 (Reuters) - The election of a moderate Iranian president could help rein in hostility between Tehran and its Arab neighbours, but many Arabs doubt he can end a sectarian confrontation that has been inflamed by war in Syria.
Hassan Rohani, a Shi'ite cleric known for a conciliatory approach and backed by reformists, will have only limited say in policy determined by Iran's supreme leader; but with the Syrian carnage fuelling rage among Sunni Arabs across the region, any gestures from Tehran may help contain it.
"We hope the new Iranian president will be a believer in a political solution in Syria," said one ambassador at the Arab League in Cairo. "All that we read about Rohani might be grounds for hope - but there is a great difference between election campaigns and what is said once in office."
For the United States and Western powers, at odds with Iran for decades and now rallying with arms behind rebels fighting Syria's Iranian-backed president, fierce religious enmities in the oil-rich Middle East add to fears of wider instability.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/15/us-iran-election-arabs-idUSBRE95E0E520130615 -
Wrapping up the Iran election live blog. Thanks for reading!
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