Re-elected Rohani offers freer society

President Hasan Rohani pledged on Saturday to open Iran to the world and deliver freedoms its people have yearned for, throwing down a defiant challenge to his hardline opponents after securing a decisive re-election for a second term.
Rohani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign, which culminated on Friday in victory with more than 57 per cent of the vote. His main challenger, hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi, received 38 per cent.
In his first televised speech after the result, Rohani appeared to openly defy conservative judges by praising the spiritual leader of the reform camp, former president Mohammad Khatami. A court has banned quoting or naming Khatami on air.
"Our nation's message in the election was clear: Iran's nation chose the path of interaction with the world, away from violence and extremism," Rohani said. He promised to serve as president for all Iranians, not just those who voted for him. The re-election is likely to safeguard the nuclear agreement Rohani's government reached with global powers in 2015, under which most international sanctions have been lifted in return for Iran curbing its nuclear programme. 

• MENA