US, West react after 64-year old Rouhani wins big in Iran

TEHRAN, Jun 16: The United States has said that it is prepared to engage Iran directly over its disputed nuclear programme after Hassan Rouhani was declared the country's new president.

The White House said on Saturday such engagement would be aimed at reaching a "diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme".

Iran's president-elect earlier urged world powers to speak to his country with respect and acknowledge its rights in order to receive an appropriate response, as he hailed his election as a "victory of moderation over extremism".

"A new opportunity has been created by this great epic, and the nations who tout democracy and open dialogue should speak to the Iranian people with respect and recognise the rights of the Islamic Republic," Rouhani said.

However, while the West welcomed his conciliatory tones, Israel reacted to Rouhani's win by saying it was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who had so far decided on nuclear policy, not the 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," the foreign ministry said in a written statement after Rouhani was elected.

Britain's Foreign Office called on Rouhani to take Iran on a different course and highlighted concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, its relationship with the international community and its human rights policy as areas where improvement was required.

France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the European nation was ready to work with Rouhani on issues ranging from Tehran's nuclear drive to the conflict in Syria.

The key opposition Syrian National Coalition umbrella grouping urged the president-elect to review his country's support for the Syrian government.

"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.

Jack Straw, Britain's former foreign secretary who dealt with Rouhani during nuclear negotiations from 2003 to 2005, called Rouhani a "very experienced diplomat and politician" who was "tough but fair".

The West hopes that the former chief nuclear negotiator's concilatory statements will lead to talks on Iran's nuclear programme, which it suspects is aimed at building nuclear weapons. However, Iran insists it is for peaceful purposes like generating energy.

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.

The White House said in a written statement it respected the will of the Iranian people and congratulated them for taking part in the election, praising "their courage in making their voices heard."

It said the vote on Friday was held amid lack of transparency, censorship of the media, the Internet and text messages, and "an intimidating security environment that limited freedom of expression and assembly".

"However, despite these government obstacles and limitations, the Iranian people were determined to act to shape their future," it said.

"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. -HD