21:27:00
Iranian reformists appear to have won all 30 seats representing the
nation's capital in parliament in a definitive rebuke to the hardliners
opposing efforts to open the economy and co-operate with the West.
In the first elections held since 2015's nuclear deal, none of Iran's three main political camps - reformists, conservatives and hardliners - is expected to win an outright majority in the 290-seat parliament, but early results indicate the best reformist showing in more than a decade.
Moderate conservatives also gained seats, and if their tentative coalition with the reformists holds, they could end the domination of parliament by hardliners who were opposed to the nuclear deal.
The reformist gains reflect strong public support for the agreement's promise of more economic opportunities now that the West has dropped crippling sanctions in exchange for limiting the nation's nuclear program.
State television said Friday's vote heralds "the end of the presence of a powerful majority in the parliament that overshadowed decision-making apparatus in the country over the past decade".
President Hassan Rouhani thanked voters on Saturday night in a message that encouraged Iranians to help him end the nation's isolation.
"The competition has ended. Now it is time to open a new way through unity between people and the government to have a new chapter in growth of the national economy by using domestic strength and foreign opportunities," he said.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, called the vote "proof of democracy" at work in Iran.
But Khamenei also addressed hardline concerns that greater integration with the West could undermine Iranian independence and morality.
He urged the next parliament, which begins its work in May, to remain vigilant against "foreign intervention", and warned democratic progress did not mean "integration into the global arrogance".
The Interior Ministry is expected to release final results on Monday.
Provincial reports suggest that of the first 185 districts reporting, 55 have gone to reformists, 66 to moderate conservatives and 64 to hard-liners.
Reformists hold fewer than 20 seats in the outgoing parliament and have been virtually shut out of politics since losing their parliamentary majority in the 2004 elections.
Nearly 55 million of Iran's 80 million people were eligible to vote, and more than 60 per cent turned out, based on partial results.
In the first elections held since 2015's nuclear deal, none of Iran's three main political camps - reformists, conservatives and hardliners - is expected to win an outright majority in the 290-seat parliament, but early results indicate the best reformist showing in more than a decade.
Moderate conservatives also gained seats, and if their tentative coalition with the reformists holds, they could end the domination of parliament by hardliners who were opposed to the nuclear deal.
The reformist gains reflect strong public support for the agreement's promise of more economic opportunities now that the West has dropped crippling sanctions in exchange for limiting the nation's nuclear program.
State television said Friday's vote heralds "the end of the presence of a powerful majority in the parliament that overshadowed decision-making apparatus in the country over the past decade".
President Hassan Rouhani thanked voters on Saturday night in a message that encouraged Iranians to help him end the nation's isolation.
"The competition has ended. Now it is time to open a new way through unity between people and the government to have a new chapter in growth of the national economy by using domestic strength and foreign opportunities," he said.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, called the vote "proof of democracy" at work in Iran.
But Khamenei also addressed hardline concerns that greater integration with the West could undermine Iranian independence and morality.
He urged the next parliament, which begins its work in May, to remain vigilant against "foreign intervention", and warned democratic progress did not mean "integration into the global arrogance".
The Interior Ministry is expected to release final results on Monday.
Provincial reports suggest that of the first 185 districts reporting, 55 have gone to reformists, 66 to moderate conservatives and 64 to hard-liners.
Reformists hold fewer than 20 seats in the outgoing parliament and have been virtually shut out of politics since losing their parliamentary majority in the 2004 elections.
Nearly 55 million of Iran's 80 million people were eligible to vote, and more than 60 per cent turned out, based on partial results.
Originally published as Iran reformers win big in Tehran
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