FACTBOX: Foreign politicians react to Iranian election

(Reuters) - Hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated moderate challenger Mirhossein Mousavi by a surprisingly wide margin in Iran's presidential election, official results showed on Saturday. Mousavi derided the tally as a "dangerous charade."

Here are some views on the outcome of Friday's vote from other countries and politicians in these countries:

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:

"The United States has refrained from commenting on the election in Iran. We obviously hope that the outcome reflects the genuine will and desire of the Iranian people.

"We watched closely the enthusiasm and the very vigorous debate and dialogue that occurred in the lead-up to the Iranian election.

EU PRESIDENCY

"The presidency is concerned about alleged irregularities during the election process and post-election violence that broke out immediately after the release of the official election results on 13 June 2009.

"The presidency hopes that the outcome of the presidential elections will bring the opportunity to resume dialogue on the nuclear issue and clear up the Iranian position in this regard.

"The presidency expects the new government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will take its responsibility toward the international community and respect its international obligations."

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY

"We have noted the results of the presidential elections in Iran as announced by the Iranian authorities, which returned Mr. Ahmadinejad for a second term as head of the Iranian government, and that they are contested by two of the candidates.

"We are continuing to follow the situation closely."

KONSTANTIN KOSACHEV, HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT'S

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

"We would like to see Ahmadinejad, if his victory is not disputed, to show more wisdom and understanding toward the global community.

"We hope that the newly elected president will step away from the policy of unilateral betting on military force and the development of a nuclear program, and the world will receive clarity regarding Iran (that it) is not going to boost its nuclear potential in the future."

CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAWRENCE CANNON:

"Canada is deeply, deeply concerned by reports about voting irregularities in the Iranian election. We're troubled by reports of intimidation of opposition candidates' offices by security forces."

ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY-GENERAL AMR MOUSSA:

"This is the opportunity ... to express my congratulations to President Ahmadinejad on his reelection. We hope that the next term would witness progress on the relations between Iran and the Arab world and cooperation in establishing peace in the Middle East. Also that the security, regional security in the region will be paramount in working together to free the region from all weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons."

INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TEUKU FAIZASYAH:

Indonesia "congratulates the people of Iran for exercising their vote with a high turnout, and a peaceful and orderly process. We respect the election result from the voting of the Iranian people that re-elected President Ahmadinejad."

ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DANNY AYALON:

"With the results of the election in Iran, the international community must stop a nuclear Iran and Iranian terror immediately.

"If there was a shadow of hope for a change in Iran, the renewed choice of Ahmadinejad expresses more than anything the growing Iranian threat," Ayalon said in a statement.

HAMAS OFFICIAL FAWZI BARHOUM:

"(Hamas hopes Iran will) continue to support Palestinian rights and the Palestinian people and continue to respect the Palestinian democratic choice and help us to end the sanctions."

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER:

"I don't think it will have any real effect because the same president will be there as has been there before. So there won't be any change. I think that the election has brought a lot of opposition to his policies in Iran and I'm sure he'll listen to the opposition and maybe he'll modify some of his positions."

ALI AL-DABBAGH, IRAQI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN:

"Iraq will deal with any choice that is decided by the Iranian people," Dabbagh told reporters.

"Iraq is free in drawing its relations with others without being a shadow for any state in the region.

"Iraq hopes to maintain friendly relations with Iran, based on the principles set by the Iraqi government and without (Iranian) interference in Iraqi affairs." OMAR AL-JUBOURI, SUNNI MUSLIM LAWMAKER from the Iraqi parliament's "Arabic" bloc:

"Iran has imperial spirit and greed," he told Reuters. "That imperial spirit has historical roots. There will be no change in Iranian politics, no matter who wins the election." JALAL AL-DEEN AL-SAGHEER, SENIOR SHI'ITE POLITICIAN in Iraq:

"As an Iraqi, I don't think Ahmadinajad's victory will change Iranian politics because Iran's external policy and external issues are governed by factors that are not related to polls," he told Reuters.

LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER FAWZI SALLOUKH:

"We hope that the success of President Ahmadinejad in Iran will be in the service of peace and calmness in the Middle East.

"We hope that his victory will be a factor that will help deal with the pending political issues between the Islamic Republic and the U.S. and the EU and other countries and we hope that this victory will serve peace, stability and security in the region."

AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER RANGEEN DADFAR SPANTA:

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is a neighbor and a friend of ours and we speak the same language. As you know, there have been deep ties (between Afghanistan and Iran) which is linked more to the people and history (of both nations) than the governments, and the prospect of these ties will remain so.

"As in the past, we will have sincere cooperation and continue our cooperation with whoever takes the responsibility and leadership of Iran through the will of Iran's people.

"We hope to see a stable and independent Iran."

MARYAM RAJAVI, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE POLITICAL WING OF THE

PEOPLE'S MUJAHIDEEN Organization OF IRAN

"Mrs Rajavi considers that the return of Ahmadinejad to the presidency of the mullahs will lead to a sudden increase in the repression of opponents, vast internal purges and surgical operations at the heart of the regime, a redoubling of efforts to acquire the atomic bomb, an increase in the export of terrorism and fundamentalism, increased interference in Iraq and the provocation of conflicts in the region" - from a statement emailed to Reuters in Paris.

(Compiled by Robert Woodward)