White House: US respects Iran election results

Josh Lederman, The Associated Press, Washington | World | Sun, June 16 2013, 9:56 AM

The Obama administration praised Iranians and reproached their government, saying it respected the results of a presidential election conducted under restrictive conditions.

Shortly after moderate cleric Hasan Rowhani was declared the winner, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Saturday the U.S. congratulated Iranians for their courage in voting. He said Iranians were determined to make their voices heard despite the limitations the ruling government imposed on the political process.

The election "took place against the backdrop of a lack of transparency, censorship of the media, Internet, and text messages, and an intimidating security environment that limited freedom of expression and assembly," Carney said in a statement. He added that despite those obstacles, "the Iranian people were determined to act to shape their future."

Secretary of State John Kerry also lauded the Iranian people and added: "President-elect Rowhani pledged repeatedly during his campaign to restore and expand freedoms for all Iranians. In the months ahead, he has the opportunity to keep his promises to the Iranian people."

The stunning surge in Friday's election behind Rowhani, a former nuclear negotiator, was perceived by supporters as a rebuke to hard-line policies that have left Iran diplomatically and economically isolated. The U.S. and other nations have used penalties to undercut Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Iran's ruling clerics barred more prominent reform candidates from the ballot, leaving a group of mostly staunch loyalists to the Islamic establishment. Iran's opposition settled on Rowhani as the least objectionable, making the 64-year-old cleric the de facto candidate for reform-minded Iranians.

"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," Carney said. Signaling that the election has not changed the administration's stance, Carney said the U.S. is still willing to engage Tehran directly to find a diplomatic solution to concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

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