Iran's Guardian Council approves presidential election resultJune 19, 2013 - 21:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's the country's election overseer, the Guardian Council, has approved the presidential election result, affirming a first-round victory by a relative moderate. According to The Associated Press, a report by state TV on Wednesday, June 19, said Hassan Rouhani won the election by taking nearly 51 percent of votes. Since he won more than half, that eliminated the need for a runoff. Rouhani takes office in August, succeeding President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani has vowed to work for better ties with the world and aims to reduce the West's sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program. However, he has offered not offered to rein in the program, as the West demands. The West suspects Iran might move toward building nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. |