Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has expressed his gratitude to the Iranian people for their massive turnout in the June 14 presidential elections.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has expressed his gratitude to the Iranian people for their massive turnout in the June 14 presidential elections, and congratulated Sheikh Hasan Rouhani on his victory in the presidential ballot.

In a message he delivered on Saturday evening, said Friday’s elections were another landmark test which showed the Iranian nation’s determination to friends and foes alike.

“The huge voter turnout on Friday showed off the strong bond between Iranians and the Islamic establishment to all ill-wishers who have resorted to “hundreds of political, economic and security ploys to undermine the trust and affinity between the nation and the Islamic system,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“The real winner of yesterday’s (Friday, June 14) election is the great Iranian nation which - prudently and tactfully - confronted the war of nerves launched by the lackeys of (global) hegemony,” the Leader underlined.

His eminence also noted that the president-elect is the president of all Iranians, adding cooperation and friendship should replace the rivalry of the campaign days.

The Leader thanked all other presidential candidates for entering the scene, and said their participation contributed to the electoral fervor and creation of an exciting competition.

Sheikh Hasan Rouhani emerged victorious in Iran's 11th presidential election marked by a high voter turnout.

Rouhani won 50.7 percent of a total of 36,704,156 valid ballots counted, with 18,613,329 votes, announced the Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar on Saturday.

Rouhani currently represents the Leader in the Supreme National Security Council, and is a member of the Expediency Council and the Assembly of Experts. He is also President of the Expediency Council's Center for Strategic Research.