Iran’s Election Surprise?

WTF!! Are they actually counting the votes this time? #Iran #Iranelection

— Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari) June 15, 2013

Journalist in Tehran: [Authorities] are not used to counting votes that's why it's taking them so long." #Iranelection #Iran

— Golnaz Esfandiari (@GEsfandiari) June 15, 2013

#Iran: You get the strategy here? Announce it slowly. VERY slowly. Not to create too much excitement. Rouhani has 50% of the vote so far

— Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) June 15, 2013

A Rohani win-still a big if-would be a big blow to Bibi Netanyahu. Much tougher to isolate #Iran w/ a smooth talking moderate president.

— Karim Sadjadpour (@ksadjadpour) June 15, 2013

Callers to #BBCPersian pointing out the hilarity of announcing 20 M votes in 5 hours back in 09 & 800,000 in 10 hours now. CC: Leveretts

— Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) June 15, 2013

People watching tv. "Will they cheat Rowhani out of victory?" A man asks. "No that would mean huge trouble" other says.

— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) June 15, 2013

Iran missed key chance w/ Obama 09. Assumed he was no different & acted accordingly. West should avoid that mistake w/ Rouhani #IranElection

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) June 15, 2013

if @HassanRouhani wins, will mean return of #Rafsanjani #Khatami technocrats. Got to be better than the status quo.

— Barbara Slavin (@barbaraslavin1) June 15, 2013

Rouhani-Khamenei relationship is complex. Rouhani's book reveals differences with Khamenei and was partly a critique of him #IranElection

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) June 15, 2013

We have to be careful about excitement over Rouhani. Even if he wins, he is part of the system.

— Alireza Nader علیرضا نادر (@AlirezaNader) June 15, 2013

Waiting for the other shoe to drop. #Iran

— Kelly G Niknejad (@TehranBureau) June 15, 2013

AMEN MT @negarmortazavi: Western media, analysts & politicians need to seriously reconsider their understanding & predictions of #Iran

— Adam Nima Pourahmadi (@ANPour) June 15, 2013

For 8 years Ahmadinejad was called a genocidal dictator w/ his finger on a button. If Rohani wins, we'll hear the president wields no power.

— Nima Shirazi (@WideAsleepNima) June 15, 2013

#Rouhani leading with 52% of the 5.2 million votes counted so far. #iranelection

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) June 15, 2013

Four years ago today we were on the street in disbelief, chanting 'Where is My Vote'. This is a different kind of disbelief. #iranelection

— Tara Aghdashloo (@taraaghdashloo) June 15, 2013

Say what? MT @khamenei_ir In 2009 was same excitement but w/ insults;this #election has no disrespect…we've progressed so much in 4 years.

— dparvaz🧿 (@dparvaz) June 15, 2013

EVERYONE is talking about the sanctions and the horrible Ahmadinejad that has caused this horrific drop of currency.#IranElection

— MishaZand (@MishaZand) June 15, 2013

Even #IranElection conservative vote is breaking down as repudiation of Khamenei, the hardliners and their values http://t.co/xjLd2vwHwc

— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) June 15, 2013

large gathering in 7Tir – heavy security everywhere asking ppls to leave area but nobody listens #Iran #Iranelection #SoG

— persiankiwi (@persiankiwi) June 15, 2013

If we go to the second round, people will be on streets for 2 weeks asking others to vote for #rouhani. This is not good for the state

— jadi (@jadi) June 15, 2013

RT @BahmanKalbasi: #BBCPersian expert Saeed Barzin: "This election demonstrates Iranian people want change, gradual & steady change." #Iran

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) June 15, 2013

First time in a long time many Iranians are expressing cautious optimism about the future, having small degree of hope. #Iran #Iranelection

— Golnaz Esfandiari (@GEsfandiari) June 15, 2013

Basically #Rouhani has won, BUT he needs to get more than 50% of vote (so far just over 51%) CONFIRMED.. almost there. #IRAN #IRANELECTION

— Soraya Lennie ثریا لنی (@soraya_lennie) June 15, 2013

publicly ppl are quiet but privately everybody is carefully waiting to hear the results with excitement #Iranelection #Iran #SoG

— persiankiwi (@persiankiwi) June 15, 2013