Economics
Iran's Rouhani Sweeps to Second Term, Beating Hardline Rival
- Victory for cleric Raisi could have derailed ties with West
- President will have to heal deep divisions exposed in campaign
Iran's Rouhani Wins Re-Election With Promise of Outreach
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Hassan Rouhani won a second term as president of Iran, in a landslide victory seen as an endorsement of his efforts to steer the nation out of isolation through its landmark nuclear deal with world powers.
Rouhani secured 57 percent of ballots cast in a first round of voting, Interior Minister Rahmani Fazli said at a news conference in Tehran. Chief rival Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline conservative cleric perceived as the favored candidate of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, took 38.5 percent. More than 41 million of 56 million eligible voters cast ballots.