Allies of Iran's allegedly reformist President Hassan Rouhani have won a landslide victory in Tehran, in the first parliamentary vote since Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers.
| The BBC, like all other western papers, think Rouhani is more of a reformer than Ted Cruz... |
With 90% of the votes counted, the pro-Rouhani List of Hope is set to take all 30 parliamentary seats in the capital. The leading conservative candidate Gholamali Haddad-Adel is in 31st place.
Millions voted on Friday to elect the 290-seat parliament as well as members of the Assembly of Experts. The 88-member assembly appoints Iran's Supreme Leader and might end up choosing a successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 76 and has suffered ill-health.
Early results gave former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a moderate conservative, and Mr Rouhani the most votes for the assembly, which is composed of mostly doddering elder and senior clerics.
| Most of whom would be quite at home with North Korea's geriatric leaders... |
This stunning election result will make a difference in Iran's engagement with the wider world.
| In what way? More terrorism? A freer hand for Rouhani to fund Hamas and Hezbollah? More snookering of western newspapers? |
President Rouhani's hand has been strengthened in parliament to help open his country to greater trade and investment. That will help him, and others in his reformist camp, to deepen the dialogue with the West, which began with negotiations on a landmark nuclear deal.
| Yes, more trade, all the while completing their efforts to get nuclear weapons and ICBM delivery systems. A good deal for them... |
The parliamentary result in Tehran is significant because lawmakers from the capital usually determine the political direction of the house, analysts say. However, reformists look to have done less well in constituencies outside the capital. |