The day before was a tense one, the night also a very long one for so many millions of Iranians. As soon as the interior ministry made the announcement, they began coming, filling squares, streets and highways all over the capital – indeed the country.
Music and horns blared well into the early hours of the morning. The sound of happiness, too. Hassan Rouhani has promised to bring change, but for at least one night, he brought people hope.
In Tehran's northwest, police tried to keep the buoyant crowds from blocking traffic, but traffic was blocking the streets too. Young Iranians screamed and cheered, chanted pro-reformist slogans, chanted for the release of political prisoners, chanted praise for the man who will become the country's seventh president.
The mood was clear: they voted for someone they believe can ease their burdens. One young Iranian could barely contain herself, as she stood out of the sunroof of a car, screaming "Victory, we were victorious!" while flashing peace signs. She had wrapped a purple scarf around her head, the official campaign colour of Rouhani. "I am so happy I don't even know what to say, we made this victory and all I hope is that everything goes well, like we wish. I want us to be happy and to live in a way that we want," she said.
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