Iran elections: Reformists win all 30 seats

TEHRAN, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Reformists won a landslide victory in the first parliamentary election in Iran since the country signed its nuclear deal with multiple countries.

More than 90 percent of the votes have been counted and List of Hope, proponents of President Hassan Rouhani, appears likely to take all 30 parliamentary seats.

The election result likely strengthen Rouhani's ability to open Iran to more trade, investment and dialogue with the west.

On Saturday, Rouhani and fellow reformist former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, were in the top two vote-getters for the Assembly of Experts in Tehran, while leading conservative Gholamali Haddad-Adel was in 31st place.

Of the 55 million people eligible to vote, about 60 percent, or 33 million, took part in the key elections Friday to choose both majlis, or Parliament, members and those of the Assembly of Experts.

Final election results are expected by Tuesday.

Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani said the high turnout during the elections, which were reportedly extended to accommodate significant amounts of latecomers, presents "a clear message for Western countries that our people defend the country's Establishment and leadership in unison."

A group of up to 6,200 candidates were running for 290 Parliamentary seats during this round of elections. More than 450 of those candidates are female, BBC said.

Some 161 candidates have been running for the 88 seats making up the Assembly of Experts, which chooses the supreme leader. Members of the Assembly serve for eight years.

Fundamental decisions, however, will still be the responsibility of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who urged voters to turn out for the elections Friday to "disappoint our enemies."

"Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should vote. Iran has enemies. They are eyeing us greedily. People should be observant and vote with open eyes and should vote wisely," he said after casting his vote.

Rafsanjani called for national unity after a divisive election.

"The competition is over and the era of unity and cooperation has arrived," Rafsanjani said, according to IRNA. "In the current highly sensitive situation in the region (where) insecurity has engulfed some countries, the lively holding of the elections of the Assembly of Experts and Majlis (parliament) in a completely calm and orderly atmosphere can serve as a model of democracy for nations."