“I do respect my political opposition,” he said.

The election, he said, revealed the country’s unity and was not an “opening for the deepening” of divides. Prevailing after the vote, he said, were the Islamic faith, freedom, independence and national self-reliance.

“No one can think of dividing us along ethnic tribal, economic or geographical lines,” he said.

Looking outside Iran’s borders, Rouhani said his nation aspires “to live in peace and friendship with the rest of the world.” But in a nod to tense relations with its adversaries and rivals, he added that his country is “not ready or willing to be threatened or be sanctioned.”

‘A very happy day’

The victory reverberated in seats of power across the globe, on the Iranian streets and at the highest level of Iranian power. Among the first world leaders to issue congratulations to Rouhani were Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, communicating in a series of tweets, lauded the “high turnout” and called it “glorious and historic” for Iranian elections.

“A new record was set,” he said, referring to presidential election turnout, and noted that the result “showed increasing progress of Iranian nation.”

The victor of the elections were the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic establishment, “who despite enemy’s efforts won the great nation’s trust,” Khamenei said.

“I voted for Mr. Rouhani,” said Mostafa, a voter in Tehran who spoke to CNN. “And I am proud of him because he showed all of the world we are a good country. Our goal is peace for our world. And I am proud of my President.”

Engaging with the world

Rouhani, a moderate, was a key architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with the United States, the European Union and other partners, and his first term was marked by an emergent international outreach.

The agreement has been controversial in both the United States and Iran, and it emerged as a top campaign issue, with the election seen in part as a referendum on the deal.

Raisi — who got 38% of the vote — had been widely seen as Khamenei’s preferred candidate. But Rouhani had history and hope on his side. No sitting president has failed to win a second term since 1981.

Rouhani’s engagement with the outside world — in spite of economic sanctions and visa restrictions — resonated with voters, especially those in affluent areas.

Nuclear deal at issue

Under the nuclear deal, Iran would reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98% and significantly scale back its number of installed centrifuges.

In exchange, the United States and the European Union would lift sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy.

Rouhani has had a tough time defending the agreement, and his opponents have accused him of not making good on his promises.

He billed the deal as one that would thrust open the gates of economic opportunity, bring the country out of its isolation, and create millions of jobs for Iranians. The agreement has brought a string of billion-dollar deals with Western firms for airplanes and oil exploration in Iran.

But the benefits have been largely limited by a fall in global oil prices and US President Donald Trump’s election, which introduced uncertainty for investors.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to rip up the nuclear deal.

For the average Iranian, the results so far have been lackluster, and Raisi repeatedly accused Rouhani of sacrificing Iran’s sovereignty for a fool’s bargain.

The election comes as Trump visits Saudi Arabia, the heart of the Sunni branch of Islam.

The Saudis and other Gulf states hope Trump will take a harder line on Iran than his predecessor, President Barack Obama.