Iranians have celebrated into the night in Tehran, after Hassan Rouhani netted a decisive presidential election victory.
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Iranians have celebrated into the night in Tehran, after Hassan Rouhani netted a decisive presidential election victory.
Securing more than 57 percent of the vote, he has secured himself a second term.
Rouhani is promising to open Iran to the world and deliver freedoms for its people.
“Health insurance is one of the most important things that Rouhani has achieved. A relative of mine had cancer and we had to pay two million tomans,” said one supporter.
“But that amount has come down to only 1400 tomans when a Health Plan started. Rouhani has done great work for us.”
Another added: “We voted for Mr. Rouhani to continue his strong diplomatic work and to also pay more attention to the young in the country.”
Rouhani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign.
“Iran chose the path of interaction with the world, away from violence and extremism. Our nation wants to live in this world in friendship. But we are not ready to be humiliated and threatened,” Rouhani told the country in a televised address.
Rouhani’s main presidential challenger was hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi. But he failed to muster enough votes, leaving him licking his wounds.
Reporting from Tehran, Euronews’ Javad Montazeri said: “Rouhani’s outstanding number of votes are a show of firm support for him and his future government, to follow the route that’s been started.”