Reformist Rowhani wins Presidential election in Iran

[superpatriotman]

You won't have Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to kick around anymore.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/15/hassan-rowhani-wins-election-iran-president_n_3446945.html

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's interior minister says moderate candidate Hasan Rowhani has won the presidential vote, handing a victory to the cleric who gained support of many reform-minded Iranians looking to claw back a bit of ground after years of crackdowns.

Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said at a press conference Saturday in Tehran that Rowhani obtained more than 50 percent of more than 36 million votes cast in Friday's election. Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a conservative candidate who had been running far behind in second place, conceded defeat.

The powerful showing by the former nuclear negotiator, which allowed him to avoid a runoff, demonstrated the strength of opposition sentiment even in a system that is gamed against it. Ruling clerics barred more prominent reform candidates.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

more at link

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!

[BeyondGeography]

2. The best possible outcome for our Iranian friends

They are basically voting for a deal with the U.S. and the end of sanctions. Wouldn't that break John McCain's heart...

[superpatriotman]

3. The entire MIC is scrambling

to create the next boogeyman from Iran. Count on it.

[David__77]

4. Have to study this guy, but at least it wasn't Rafsanjani.

He would have been the worst, and the Iranians were spared his candidacy.

[roamer65]

5. Don't expect a lot of change from him.

Ayatollah Ali Khameini is the true ruler of Iran and the Iranians will NOT abandon their Shia allies in Syria.

This has morphed into a regional Shia-Sunni conflict and the Iranians are not going to back off from the Saudis.

[superpatriotman]

6. I half agree

But I hope the change in figureheads (even into a covered one) could be a positive step towards reform for the very young, non-religious Iranian population.

[burnodo]

7. Morphed?

It's been a Sunni-Shia conflict since before March 2003.

I think this will be positive, the western media machine will have to wait for him to make outrageous statements or do questionable things. Good news? War on Iran will not happen as soon.

[ananda]

8. It's not all that great a victory.

From everything I've read, the PTB aren't upset.

[roamer65]

9. That's because he's Khameini's man.

This guy is no moderate. He has been a part of the power structure since the 1979 revolution and a staunch defender of Iran's nuclear program.

The big question to be asked is if the Israelis will trust him. I doubt that very much.