Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino says Rome hopes to promote bilateral relations with Tehran following the victory of Hassan Rohani in Iran’s 11th presidential election.
“Italy trusts that, with the new government of Iranian President (Hassan) Rowhani, it will be possible to work at developing bilateral relations and begin, without delay, a season of renewed comprehension and constructive dialogue between Iran and the international community,” Bonino said in a statement on Saturday.
Bonino said she noted “with pleasure the proper carrying out of the presidential election in Iran.”
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also hailed Rohani’s election as a vote for “a constructive foreign policy.”
“We hope that the country’s new administration collaborates in this sense in order to reach solutions on international and regional questions,” Westerwelle added.
Earlier, officials from other countries had also congratulated Rohani on his victory in the June 14 election.
Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced on Saturday that of a total of 36,704,156 ballots counted, Rohani has won 50.70 percent, a decisive 18,613,329 votes.
Principlist candidate Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf came in second in the presidential polls with 6,077,292 votes. Principlist Saeed Jalili garnered 4,168,946 votes, and independent Mohsen Rezaei won 3,884,412 votes. Principlist Ali-Akbar Velayati and independent Mohammad Gharazi trailed behind in fifth and sixth places, with 2,268,753 and 446,015 votes respectively.
Nearly 50.5 million Iranians, including more than 1.6 million first-time voters, were eligible to participate in the June 14 elections. The Interior Ministry put the voter turnout at 72.7 percent.
