UAE leaders greet Iran’s new president, offer cooperation

(AFP, Wam) / 16 June 2013

Taken on June 14, 2013, Iranian moderate presidential candidate, Hassan Rowhani (C) flashes the sign of victory as he leaves a polling station after voting on in Tehran during the first round of the presidential candidate. Rowhani has won Iran's presidential election, the interior minister announced on June 15, 2013, putting an end to eight years of conservative grip on the nation's executive. - AFP

Moderate cleric Hasan Rohani was declared Iran’s new president on Saturday, the interior minister said, in an outright election victory that ends eight years of conservative grip on the top office.

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a cable of greetings to Rohani on his victory. Shaikh 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 Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and General Shaikh 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.
Rohani hailed his election as a “victory of moderation over extremism”, media reported. “This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity... over extremism,” said the mid-ranking moderate cleric who was also backed by reformists.
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 on Friday.
Rohani’s tally was enough to ensure there would be no run-off against the runner-up, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who was in distant second place with 6.07 million votes. Current nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, was third with 3.17 million.

Rohani inherits an economy that has been badly hit by EU and US sanctions targeting the key oil and banking sectors.