South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday urged Iran to give priority to resolving all outstanding issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Zuma was speaking while congratulating Hassan Rouhani for being elected as Iranian president succeeding current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRC).

Resolving the outstanding issues with the IAEA "would not only allow Iran to reclaim its rightful place in the international community, but it would also result in the lifting of international sanctions, which has caused immense hardships to the Iranian people," the department quoted Zuma as saying.

Rouhani, who won more than 50 percent of the votes, will take office in August 2013.

"President Zuma extended his congratulations and best wishes to president-elect Rouhani and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expressed the hope that relations between South Africa and Iran would be consolidated under his leadership," the DIRC said in a statement.

South Africa and Iran have maintained good relationship. They have set up a joint commission as a mechanism to consolidate relations and exchange views on international and regional developments. The commission is scheduled to take place in Pretoria on Oct. 10.