MOSCOW, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Sunday congratulated Hassan Rouhani over his victory in the Iranian presidential elections, the Kremlin press service said.
Putin expressed confidence that Rouhani's presidency "will contribute to the prosperity of friendly Iran and further strengthening of Russian-Iranian relations."
Putin also reaffirmed Russia's readiness and commitment to advance "mutually beneficial cooperation with Iran in various fields" in order to ensure regional security and international stability.
The moderate candidate garnered 50.71 percent of the votes, winning 18,613,329 votes out of 36,704,156, Iran's Minister of Interior Affairs Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said Saturday evening.
Touting "flourishing economy, pragmatic politics and dynamic culture" as three pillars in managing the country, Rouhani captured the desires of the Iranian people for the future and fate of their country.
He is also widely seen as the right candidate to help unlock Iran's nuclear impasse with international mediators.
In 2003 when Rouhani served as top nuclear negotiator under former President Mohammad Khatami's rule, Iran agreed to suspend its controversial enrichment of uranium.
During his election campaign, Rouhani pledged to return the nuclear issue from the UN Security Council to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and should be settled with the nuclear watchdog.
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