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Middle East

Interior minister declares reformist-backed Rowhani winner in Iran presidential vote


Iranian President Hasan Rowhani ran as a moderate, and the release of 11 political prisoners could be evidence of a shift in Iran. (AP) (AP)


The powerful showing by the former nuclear negotiator allowed him to avoid a two-person runoff and demonstrated the strength of opposition sentiment even in a system that is gamed against it. The ruling clerics barred from the race reform candidates seen as too prominent, allowing a list of hopefuls who were mainly staunch loyalists of the supreme leader.

But the opposition settled on Rowhani as the least objectionable of the bunch, making him the de facto reform candidate.

While Iran's presidential elections offer a window into the political pecking orders and security grip inside the country -- particularly since the chaos from a disputed outcome in 2009 -- they lack the drama of truly high stakes as the country's ruling clerics and their military guardians remain the ultimate powers.

Security forces also are in firm control after waves of arrests and relentless pressures since the last presidential election in 2009, which unleashed massive protests over claims the outcome was rigged to keep the combative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power for a second and final term. He is barred from seeking a third consecutive run. However the last-moment surge around Rowhani injected some excitement in the race.

Rowhani won with 50.7 percent of the more than 36 million votes cast, the Interior Ministry reported, well ahead of Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf with about 16.5 percent. Hard-line nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili came in third with 11.3 percent followed by conservative Mohsen Rezaei with 10.6 percent.


Voters waited on line for hours in wilting heat Friday at some polling stations in downtown Tehran and other cities, while others cast ballots across the vast country from desert outposts to Gulf seaports and nomad pastures. Voting was extended by five hours to meet demand, but also as possible political stagecraft to showcase the participation.

On one side were hard-liners looking to cement their control behind candidates such as Jalili, who says he is "100 percent" against detente with Iran's foes, or Qalibaf, who was boosted by a reputation as a steady hand for Iran's sanctions-wracked economy.



The Interior Ministry said Rowhani had 18,613,329 votes, followed by Qalibaf with 6,077,292, Jalili with 4,168,946 votes and Rezaei with3,884,412. The other two candidates were far behind.

Despite reformists' support, Rowhani's win is likely to be more of a limited victory than a deep shake-up. Iran's establishment, a tight alliance of the ruling clerics and the ultra-powerful Revolutionary Guard, still holds all the effective power and sets the agenda on all major decisions such as Iran's nuclear program and its dealings with the West. The greater comfort level by the theocracy and Revolutionary Guard also sets a different tone from 2009. Opposition groups appear too intimidated and fragmented to revive street demonstrations.



Yet a Rowhani victory is not entirely without significance either as it could make room for more moderate voices in Iranian political dialogue and display their resilience. It also brings onto the world stage an Iranian president who has publicly endorsed more outreach rather than bombast toward the West.







Fervor remained strong for Rowhani's rivals as well.

Qalibaf was riding on his image as a capable fiscal manager who can deal with the deepening problems of Iran's economy and sinking currency.

Jalili drew support from hard-line factions such as the Revolutionary Guard's paramilitary corps, the Basij. His reputation is further enhanced by a battlefield injury that cost him the lower part of his right leg during Iran's 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which at the time was backed by the United States.



Ahmadinejad leaves office weakened and outcast by his political battles with Khamenei -- yet another sign of where real power rests in Iran. The election overseers also rejected Ahmadinejad's protege Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei in apparent payback. The usually talkative Ahmadinejad gave only a brief statement to reporters as he voted and refused to discuss the election.

Khamenei remained mum on his own choice even as he cast his ballot. He added that his children don't know whom he backs.

Instead, he blasted the U.S. for its repeated criticism of Iran's clampdowns on the opposition and the rejection of Rafsanjani and other moderates from the ballot.


Iran's state media hailed the apparently high turnout as a boost for the Islamic Republic's political system.

"A great political epic has shocked the world," read a front-page headline inestimated at 75 percent by the hard-line newspaper Kayhan --  Kayhan Saturday.  Khamenei had called for a "political epic," saying a high turnout would protect Iran against its enemies.

