REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DUBAI - Iranians celebrated into Sunday after moderate Hassan Rohani was elected president in a popular repudiation of conservative hardliners, and he pledged a new tone of respect in Tehran's international affairs after years of increasing antagonism.

Rohani, a Shi'ite cleric and former chief nuclear negotiator with Western powers, received a resounding mandate for change from Iranians weary of years of economic decline under UN and Western sanctions and security clampdowns on dissent.

But the hopeful reaction abroad was tempered by scepticism that Rohani could overcome the mistrust and alienation prevailing between Tehran and much of the world, and arch-enemy Israel warned against any complacency on Iran's disputed quest for nuclear power. Israel, widely believed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, and the West fear Iran is enriching uranium with the aim of developing nuclear arms, an accusation Tehran denies.

"The international community must not give in to wishful thinking or temptation and loosen the pressure on Iran for it to stop its nuclear programme," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Rohani's surprise win will not resolve anytime soon the row with the West over Iran's nuclear ambitions or lessen its support of Syria's president in the civil war there - matters of national security decided by Khamenei. But the president runs the economy and has important influence on decision-making and Iranians clearly felt change was essential after eight years of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a belligerent, populist hardliner associated with mismanagement, waste and repression.

State TV re-broadcast his victory speech on Sunday and its website quoted him as saying: "With their celebrations last night, the Iranian people showed they are hopeful about the future and God willing, ethics and moderation will govern the country."

However, he told the state news agency IRNA, "the country's problems won't be solved overnight and this needs to happen gradually and with consultation with experts."

But Rohani said there was a new chance "in the international arena" for "those who truly respect democracy and cooperation and free negotiation".

The United States said it stood ready to engage with Iran to reach a "diplomatic solution" over its nuclear programme, even though it - along with Israel - have refused to rule out military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

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