Bibi warns of 'wishful thinking' over Iran election result

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for continued vigilance, declaring that “the international community should not fall into wishful thinking and be tempted to ease pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear programme”.

The American government’s reaction, however, was cautiously optimistic. Mr Rouhani’s triumph over an otherwise conservative field prompted White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to say “if [Rouhani] lives up to his obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions to come clean on this illicit nuclear programme, he will find a partner in us”.

The turnout was high at 72 per cent, though this was down on the 85 per cent who cast their ballots in 2009. Rouhani garnered 50.71 per cent of the 36.7 million votes cast, according to Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, with Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf placing a distant second on 16.56 per cent.