Rouhani set for reelection as Iran's president in landslide victory

A file photo of Iran's incumbent President Hassan Rouhani. Primary results of Iran's presidential election suggest Rouhani is taking the lead. [Photo: news.163.com]

Iranian state television has congratulated incumbent President Hassan Rouhani on being re-elected, Reuters reported on Saturday.

Rouhani received 22.8 million votes, compared to 15.5 million for his hardline conservative challenger Ebrahim Raisi, according to the Interior Ministry, adding more votes were still to be tallied.

Friday's election was a battle between the two frontrunners – Rouhani, the incumbent president who is trying to bank on his achievement in securing a nuclear deal with Western powers; and Ebrahim Raisi, former member of Iran's judiciary who is thought to have the support of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Rouhani, 68, became president after winning a 2013 election by a wide margin. His desire to engage in diplomacy with Western powers led to the landmark nuclear agreement in July 2015, which lifted international sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program.