Rouhani in first press conference as president (Photo: AFP)

“Behind the smiles and the mirth brought about by Hassan Rouhani’s triumph in the first round of the Iranian presidential election there lurks a personal tragedy: his elder son took his own life in 1992 in protest of his father’s close connection with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah,” reports Ynet News.

“I hate your government, your lies, your corruption, your religion, your double acts and your hypocrisy,” wrote the future president’s son in his suicide note, published in London by exiled Iranian political commentator Ali Reza Nouri, Ynet reports.

“I am ashamed to live in such environment where I’m forced to lie to my friends each day, telling them that my father isn’t part of all of this. Telling them my father loves this nation, whereas I believe this to be not true. It makes me sick seeing you, my father, kiss the hand of Khamenei,” read the letter published in the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat

“Official Iranian press attributed the young man’s suicide to unrequited love,” reports Ynet.