World leaders eager to work with new Iranian president

European Union and UN express desire to engage with Rowhani on nuclear, regional issues in wake of relative moderate’s election victory

By Joshua Davidovich

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16 June 2013, 3:59 am

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Joshua Davidovich is The Times of Israel's Deputy Editor

Hasan Rowhani gestures to his supporters at a rally in Tehran on June 1. (photo credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)

World leaders congratulated Iranian president-elect Hasan Rowhani on his election victory Saturday, expressing hope that they could work with the new leadership in Tehran on international issues.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said her office would engage with the new leadership to push for a diplomatic way to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

“I remain firmly committed to working with the new Iranian leadership towards a swift diplomatic solution of the nuclear issue,” she said.

Ashton has headed up talks between six world powers and Iran over its nuclear program, which is widely believed to be military in nature.

The talks have failed to produce any significant breakthroughs in several years of efforts, and Iran insists the program is peaceful.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he would continue to work with Tehran “on issues of importance to the international community and the welfare of the Iranian people.”

“He will continue encouraging Iran to play a constructive role in regional and international affairs,” a press release from his office said.

Rowhani,seen as the least extreme of the presidential candidates, was announced the winner of Iran’s presidential election Saturday, garnering 50.7 percent of the votes from the day before.

Though the former nuclear negotiator has expressed relatively moderate views, including that the country’s nuclear program should take a back seat to Iran’s economic welfare, watchers say he will likely be hamstrung in making any wide ranging reforms by Tehran’s deeply ensconced clerical regime.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Rowhani now has the opportunity to keep his promises to the Iranian people “to restore and expand freedoms for all Iranians.”

Earlier, the White House congratulated Iranian voters for “their courage in making their voices heard” despite clampdowns that included severe restrictions on the Internet, a key tool of Iran’s opposition. Washington urged Tehran’s leadership to “heed the will of the Iranian people and make responsible choices,” while noting that the US remained open for direct dialogue with Iran.