Election officials in Iran are counting ballots after Friday’s parliamentary election, as unofficial reports suggest the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The election was the first since the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, triggered widespread protests in 2022 .
A number of reformists are boycotting the election, amid widespread hardship.
Early results show that conservatives have won Tehran’s 30 seats.
Two separate polls took place on Friday: one to elect members of parliament, and another to elect the Assembly of Experts.
The assembly selects and oversees Iran’s most powerful figure and commander-in-chief, the supreme leader.
Iran has been badly hit by international sanctions, an economic crisis and violent unrest.
More than 61.2 million Iranians were eligible to vote.
Despite Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s appeal for people to cast their votes, many Iranians were split on whether or not to take part.
The 2020 parliament was elected during the Covid-19 pandemic with a turnout of 42.57% – officially the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Early polling on Friday suggested the election’s turnout could be at a new record low and is thought to be particularly low in the capital, Tehran.
A state-linked polling agency projected a 41% turnout for the parliamentary elections – which, if accurate, will be the lowest turnout in the past 12 such votes.