Reformists and moderate conservatives are leading in the race for
parliament according to early election results, an indication President
Hassan Rouhani may face a more friendly house to pursue his domestic
agenda.
Early returns Saturday morning from Friday's parliamentary
polls show that none of the three competing political factions will win a
majority alone in the 290-seat parliament but reformists seeking
greater democratic changes are heading to win their strongest presence
in parliament since 2004 at the expense of hard-liners.
Officials are
yet to release early results but reports in the semiofficial Fars and
Mehr news agencies and a count conducted by The Associated Press show
that hard-liners are the main losers of the vote.
Friday's election
for Iran's parliament and a powerful clerical body known as the Assembly
of Experts was the first since Iran's landmark nuclear deal with world
powers last year.
(AP)
Iranians fill out their ballots in parliamentary elections at a polling
station in downtown Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened
Friday in Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its
landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranians line up for voting in parliamentary elections outside a polling
station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened
Friday in Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its
landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iran's Parliament speaker Ali Larijani casts his ballot during
parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a polling station in
Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital Tehran, Iran,
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer.
An Iranian woman displays her ink-stained finger after voting in the
parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a polling station in
Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital Tehran, Iran,
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday in Iran's parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer.
Iranian women vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections
at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the
capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday in
Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark
nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian voters, left, arrive at a polling station to vote for their
country's parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections as election staff
receive them in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were
voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's first since
its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer. At the same
time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also voting for the
Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the
country's supreme leader.
An Iranian woman votes in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south
of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting
on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's first since its
landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian women vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections
at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the
capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday in
Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark
nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranians vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a
polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian election workers await voters in the parliamentary and Experts
Assembly elections at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78
miles) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls
opened Friday in Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first
since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian women vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections
at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the
capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday in
Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark
nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian voters, left, arrive at a polling station to vote for their
country's parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections as election staff
receive them in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were
voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's first since
its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer. At the same
time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also voting for the
Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the
country's supreme leader.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani votes in the parliamentary and
Experts Assembly elections at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers
(78 miles) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.
Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's
first since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
An Iranian votes in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a
polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer.
An Iranian votes in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a
polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer.
Head of the reformists' coalition list of the Iranian parliamentary
elections in Tehran Mohammad Reza Aref, center, casts his ballot in a
polling station in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.
Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's
first since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer. At
the same time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also voting for
the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss
the country's supreme leader.
An Iranian woman votes in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections at a polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south
of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday
in Iran's parliamentary elections, the country's first since its
landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian women stand in line at a polling station during the
parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in Qom, 125 kilometers (78
miles) south of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.
Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's
first since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer.
In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian
Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani waves to media after casting his
vote for parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in Tehran, Iran
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian
supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei casts his ballot
during parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in Tehran, Iran
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
A group of Iranian voters fill out their ballots as the others queue for
getting ballot papers during the parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections in a polling station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26,
2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the
country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last
summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also
voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose
or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
Iranians vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a
polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian voters fill out their ballots during the country's parliamentary
and Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in northern Tehran,
Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary
elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a
clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme
leader.
Iranians line up for voting in parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections outside a polling station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday,
Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian
Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani casts his ballot for parliamentary
elections in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting
on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's first since its
landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as
parliamentary elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of
Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's
supreme leader.
Head of the reformists' coalition list of the Iranian parliamentary
elections in Tehran Mohammad Reza Aref, center, and his wife Hamideh
Moravej Farshi cast their ballots at a polling station in northern
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary
elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a
clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme
leader.
Iranians queue for voting in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections in a polling station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26,
2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the
country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last
summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also
voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose
or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
Iranian voters fill out their ballots during the parliamentary and
Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in central Tehran, Iran,
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
Iranian voters fill out their ballots during the parliamentary and
Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in central Tehran, Iran,
Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
An Iranian elderly woman makes her way after receiving ballot papers to
vote for the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in a polling
station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were
voting on Friday in parliamentary elections, the country's first since
its landmark nuclear deal with world powers last summer. At the same
time as parliamentary elections, Iranians are also voting for the
Assembly of Experts, a clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the
country's supreme leader.
Iranian voters queue for getting ballot papers during the parliamentary
and Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in central Tehran,
Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary
elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a
clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme
leader.
Iranians vote in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections at a
polling station in Qom, 125 kilometers (78 miles) south of the capital
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Polls opened Friday in Iran's
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer.
Iranian voters fill out their ballots during the country's parliamentary
and Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in northern Tehran,
Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary
elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a
clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme
leader.
Iranians line up for voting in the parliamentary and Experts Assembly
elections outside a polling station in central Tehran, Iran, Friday,
Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in parliamentary
elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear deal with
world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary elections,
Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body
empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme leader.
Iranian men, left, and women, right, queue for voting in the
parliamentary and Experts Assembly elections in a polling station in
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians across the Islamic
Republic voted Friday in the country's first election since its landmark
nuclear deal with world powers, deciding whether to further empower its
moderate president or side with hard-liners long suspicious of the
West. The election for Iran's parliament and a clerical body known as
the Assembly of Experts hinges on both the policies of President Hassan
Rouhani, as well as Iranians worries about the country's economy, long
battered by international sanctions.
Head of the reformists' coalition list of the Iranian parliamentary
elections in Tehran Mohammad Reza Aref, center, and his wife Hamideh
Moravej Farshi cast their ballots at a polling station in northern
Tehran, Iran, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. Iranians were voting on Friday in
parliamentary elections, the country's first since its landmark nuclear
deal with world powers last summer. At the same time as parliamentary
elections, Iranians are also voting for the Assembly of Experts, a
clerical body empowered to choose or dismiss the country's supreme
leader.
