Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Hassan Rouhani on his victory in Iran's presidential election and urged him to forge closer ties with Moscow.

"Putin expressed confidence that Hassan Rouhani's work on this high post will promote the flourishing of (Russian) friend Iran and further strengthen Russian-Iranian relations," the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying in a message to Iran's president-elect on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged continued international pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear programme after the election of a new president widely seen as a moderate.

"The international community must not give in to wishful thinking or temptation and loosen the pressure on Iran for it to stop its nuclear programme," Netanyahu told his cabinet, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.

Ofir Gendelman, Netanyahu's spokesperson, tweeted some of the prime minister's additional comments

PM Netanyahu: the ruler of Iran is the Supreme Leader, not the president, and it is he who determines nuclear policy

— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) June 16, 2013

[Source: Reuters, AFP]

Iran's stock exchange is climbing for the second continuous day following the surprise election of a reformist-backed president, Hassan Rouhani.

The rise came after a night of a celebration in Tehran, with cars honking and blaring music ranging from patriotic songs to the Lambada.

The website of the Tehran Stock Exchange said the market jumped 837 points by mid-morning Sunday, reaching 47,460 from its Saturday close of 46,623, almost a 1.8 percent increase.

On Saturday the stock exchange index improved by 2 percent while Iran's national currency, the rial, strengthened by 9 percent against the US dollar.

[Source: AP]

A senior Israeli official says international sanctions are still needed to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program, despite the election of a reformist-backed president.

Yuval Steinitz, Israel's minister of intelligence and strategic affairs, said Sunday that there won't be any change on Iran's nuclear policy since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei still runs the country.

Steinitz is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear program.

Despite Hassan Rouhani's surprise victory in Friday's election, all key decisions, including nuclear efforts, defense and foreign affairs, remain solidly in the hands of the ruling clerics and their powerful protectors, the Revolutionary Guard.

[Source: AP]

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Saturday that she was committed to working with newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on finding a solution to Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

"I remain fully committed to working with the new Iranian leadership towards a swift diplomatic solution of the nuclear issue," said Ashton, who serves as chief negotiator for the six world powers seeking to check Iran's controversial nuclear ambitions. - AFP

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of  Tehran to celebrate the election of moderate Hassan Rowhani as president, with chanting pro-reform slogans and demanding more freedom.

Large crowds were converging in main streets and squares on Saturday, as security forces and police units looked on.

Thousands of cars honked their horns throughout the capital, and many  people were dressed in purple, Rowhani's campaign colour. Some handed out purple balloons to the crowd.

"We said no to commander, we said no to mayor, (we chose) the courageous Rowhani," people chanted.

That was a reference to two defeated candidates, ex-Revolutionary Guards chief Mohsen Rezai and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, both hailing from the conservative camp. - AFP

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino has said Italy hopes to launch a "relationship of renewed comprehension and constructive dialogue" with Iran after the election of its new president.

"Italy trusts that, with the new government of Iranian President (Hassan) Rouhani, it will be possible to work at developing bilateral relations and begin without delay a season of renewed comprehension and constructive dialogue between Iran and the international community," she said in a written statement on Saturday.

Bonino said she noted "with pleasure the proper carrying out of the presidential election in Iran." - AFP

The United States has urged Tehran to "heed the will of the Iranian people" after Iranians elected moderate Hassan Rouhani to be their country's next president.

"We respect the vote of the Iranian people and congratulate them for their participation in the political process, and their courage in making their voices heard," the White House said in a written statement on Saturday.

"It is our hope that the Iranian government will heed the will of the Iranian people and make responsible choices that create a better future for all Iranians."

The United States remained ready to engage the Iranian government directly to reach a diplomatic solution to address concerns from the international community about its nuclear program, the White House said. - Reuters

Israel's foreign ministry has said in a written statement in reaction to Hassan Rouhani's Iran presidential election win that the country will "continue to be judged by its actions, in the nuclear sphere as well as on the issue of terror".

"The president-elect in Iran had been shortlisted by the Ayatollah Khamenei, who has disqualified and removed candidates who did not conform his extremist views," the statement issued on Saturday said.

"Iran's nuclear programme has so far been determined by Khamenei, and not by Iran's President.

"After the elections, Iran will continue to be judged by its actions, in the nuclear sphere as well as on the issue of terror.

"Iran must abide by the demands of the international community to stop its nuclear programme and cease the dissemination of terror throughout the world."

Iran's president-elect Hassan Rowhani in his statement on Saturday hailed his election as a "victory of moderation over extremism," media reported.

"This victory is a victory for wisdom, moderation and maturity... over extremism," the mid-ranking moderate cleric who was also backed by reformists said. - AFP

France has acknowledged the election of moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani as Iran's new president, saying it was "ready to work" with him on issues ranging from Tehran's nuclear drive to the Syria conflict.

"The expectations of the international community with regard to Iran are significant, especially about its nuclear programme and its involvement in Syria, " French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a written statement on Saturday.

Fabius said that France was ready to work on the issues with the new president, as he  praised the "Iranian people's resolute desire for democracy". - AFP

The key opposition Syrian National Coalition umbrella grouping has urged newly elected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to review his country's support for the Syrian regime.

"The Syrian National Coalition believes that it is its duty to call on the new president of Iran to rectify the mistakes made by the Iranian leadership," the group said on Saturday, in reference to Tehran's staunch backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. - AFP

Britain has called on Hassan Rouhani to take Iran on a different course following his victory in the country's presidential election.

"The Foreign Office notes the announcement of Hassan Rowhani's electoral victory," Britain's Foreign Office said in a written statement.

A spokesman for the ministry added: "We call on him to use the opportunity to set Iran on a different course  for the future."

The Foreign office highlighted international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme,  its relationship with the international community and its human rights policy as areas where improvement was required. - AFP

Iranians were celebrating in the streets of the capital Tehran on Saturday, after Hassan Rouhani was elected as president.

Rowhani, the cleric who won Iran's presidential election, is a moderate who has pledged to engage more with world powers in hopes of easing crippling economic sanctions. - AFP

Final official results for Iran's presidential election announced by Iranian officials. The percentages are calculated by Reuters from the total number of votes cast and have been rounded.

Candidate Votes Received Proportion of Total / %
Hassan Rouhani 18,613,329 /50.71
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf 6,077,292 /16.56
Saeed Jalili 4,168,946 /11.36
Mohsen Rezaie 3,884,412 /10.58
Ali Akbar Velayati 2,268,753 /6.18
Mohammad Gharazi 446,015 /1.22
Total Votes Cast 36,704,156

- Reuters

Moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani is the president elect, the Interior ministry announced.

The ministry said on Saturday that he won Iran's presidential election with more than 18 million of the votes

His closest rival, Tehran mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, garnered six million votes.

It was a high turnout and 72 percent of people who were eligible to vote did so.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar told state television on Saturday that his electoral staff would not "compromise accuracy for speed".

Moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani has edged closer to an outright win in Iran's presidential election, holding more than half the votes after 89 percent of polling stations had reported.

Rouhani, a former top nuclear negotiator who has championed more constructive engagement with world powers, had secured 50.99 percent of the votes cast in Friday's election to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

If repeated at the remaining polling stations, that would be enough to give him victory without recourse to a run-off.

Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was in distant second place with 15.76  percent of the vote, followed by current nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, with 11.38 percent, and former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezai with 11.16 percent.

The withdrawal of the sole reformist from the race had left the field open for Rouhani to win the votes of both moderates and reformists and establish a large lead over his divided hardline opponents. - AFP

Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani is leading the race to succeed  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's president, with more than three-quarters of  polling stations reporting.

Rowhani, a former top nuclear negotiator who has championed more  constructive engagement with the international community, secured 51 percent of the vote with 32 million votes counted.

If repeated at the remaining polling stations, his tally would be enough to give him outright victory without recourse to a second-round run-off. - AFP/ Reuters