Hassan Rouhani has been re elected President of Iran. He captured 57% of the total number of votes. Conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi was the main challenger but he bagged only 38.5% votes. It was a victory for reformists against hardliners. The 2015 nuclear deal was of course the key issue in the election. Together with that came unemployment and the slow pace of change. Rouhani also promises greater individual and political freedom. His victory ensures strengthening of relations with the West. The US had done well to reauthorize waivers from nuclear related sanctions before the elections in Iran. There was a feeling that President Donald Trump would re-impose sanctions. That would have improved the chances of hardliners. It is hoped that the US will continue the waiving of sanctions in future.
Rouhani will have to boost economic growth and reduce unemployment in the country. He will have to focus on the benefits of the nuclear deal with the West. Relations with Saudi Arabia have to be improved removing Shia-Sunni differences. Better relations between the two will help resolution of the crisis in Syria and Yemen. The destructive role of the Islamic State will then be tamed. Rouhani’s victory suits India’s interests. India will have access to Afghanistan through a land route bypassing Pakistan and links will be opened to Central Asia and Russia via the International North-South Corridor. The lethargic pace of the development of the Chabahar Port has to be speeded up. Unless New Delhi can cash in on Rouhani’s victory, Beijing will muscle in.