Rouhani Rides To Victory On His Own Terms

TEHRAN: Iranian people have indicated through this election that they "want to live in peace and friendship with the world, without accepting any humiliation or threat," Hassan Rouhani said in his televised victory speech after winning a second term as the Iranian president in a landslide.

Rouhani said the Iranian nation has chosen the path of interaction with the rest of the world away from violence and extremism.

Rouhani defeated his hard-line rival, Ebrahim Raisi, who the western media said, had the backing of the powerful clergy and allied security forces. 

Rouhani rode to victory with 57-percent majority out of more than 41 million votes.

Iranians clearly and explicitly sent their message to the world through the Friday elections, he said, adding, "Our nation wants to live in peace and friendship with the world, but at the same time, it will accept no humiliation or threat."

"This is the most important message that our nation expects to be heard correctly by all governments, neighbors, and particularly, big global powers," Rouhani pointed out. 

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also issued a message commending the Iranian people for their "massive and epic" turnout in the country's twin elections.

"The winner of yesterday's elections, is you, the Iranian people, and the Islamic establishment, which has managed to win the increasing trust of this big nation despite the enemies' plot and effort," he said soon after the results were declared for the elections which saw 77 percent turnout.

Ayatollah added that the "massive and enthusiastic" participation of the Iranian people, who stood in long lines to reach the ballot boxes throughout the country, was "a clear indication of the strength of the pillars of Islamic democracy."

Tens of thousands of supporters of President poured into the streets of Tehran to celebrate the incumbent's re-election.

The impromptu rallies snarled traffic in the center of the capital, leaving many drivers to abandon their stuck cars in the middle of major roads.

In the capital's central Vali-e-Asr Square, revelers shot off fireworks as massive billboard featuring the Iranian flag and urging citizens to vote loomed above the square.

The Iranian election results came as US president Donald Trump began his maiden visit to the region with Iran's arch rival Saudi Arabia, a totalitarian regime, as his first stop.

Rouhani noted in his victory speech that Iran's polls declared to the neighboring countries and the entire region that the way to establishment of security in this region was to reinforce democracy and showing respect for the people's votes, instead of relying on foreign powers. 

He emphasized that the Iranians' decisive vote throughout the country proved that they were "one nation" that had "one administration" and wanted "one president," who would be the president of all people and, of course, serve all people. 

He called on all Iranians, even those who were against his policies, to help him advance his plans.

On the international front, Iran will have to confront the more bellicose administration of President Trump. As presidential vote in Iran took place, Trump landed Saturday in Saudi Arabia, which is Iran's main rival. His administration has placed the nuclear deal under interagency review and recently imposed new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile program.

Noted Middle East expert Robert Fisk wrote in The Independent, that "the Saudis will be appalled that a (comparatively) reasonable Iranian has won a (comparatively) free election that almost none of the 50 dictators gathering to meet Trump in Riyadh would ever dare to hold."