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| Iran election: Counting starts after high turnout | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Polls have closed in Iran's first election since a deal with world powers over the country's nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions. | |
| Voting was extended three times as crowds reportedly flocked to polling stations. Turnout was said to be high. | |
| Iranians have been electing a new parliament and Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that appoints the Supreme Leader. | |
| Reformists are hoping to gain influence in the conservative-dominated bodies. | Reformists are hoping to gain influence in the conservative-dominated bodies. |
| But of 12,000 people who registered as candidates, only half were allowed to stand, including just 200 moderates. | But of 12,000 people who registered as candidates, only half were allowed to stand, including just 200 moderates. |
| The outcome could affect reformist President Hassan Rouhani's chances of re-election in 2017. | The outcome could affect reformist President Hassan Rouhani's chances of re-election in 2017. |
| What is the Assembly of Experts? | What is the Assembly of Experts? |
| Iran elections: Five things to know | Iran elections: Five things to know |
| Elections highlight divisions | Elections highlight divisions |
| Punchy politics on social media | Punchy politics on social media |
| Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a big turnout to "disappoint" the country's enemies. | Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a big turnout to "disappoint" the country's enemies. |
| "Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should vote," he said after casting his ballot. | "Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should vote," he said after casting his ballot. |
| State TV said polling stations had closed at 23:45 (20:15 GMT), more than five hours after the scheduled closing time of 18:00. | |
| The parliamentary elections are to choose 290 MPs for four-year terms. | The parliamentary elections are to choose 290 MPs for four-year terms. |
| Voters will also select 88 clerics to the Assembly of Experts, who serve eight-year terms. | Voters will also select 88 clerics to the Assembly of Experts, who serve eight-year terms. |
| Members of the new Assembly might end up choosing the successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 76 and has suffered ill-health. | Members of the new Assembly might end up choosing the successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 76 and has suffered ill-health. |
| Some 55 million people were eligible to vote. | |
| BBC Persian's Ali Hamedani says the economy has been a key issue in this election. | BBC Persian's Ali Hamedani says the economy has been a key issue in this election. |
| With sanctions lifted and Western investors beginning to return to Iran, there are high hopes for an improvement in daily life, he says. | With sanctions lifted and Western investors beginning to return to Iran, there are high hopes for an improvement in daily life, he says. |
| Reformists and moderates say they are targeting greater foreign investment which, our correspondent says, will drive jobs for young people. | Reformists and moderates say they are targeting greater foreign investment which, our correspondent says, will drive jobs for young people. |
| More than half of Iranians are under 35 but the youth unemployment rate is 25%, more than two and a half times the national average. | More than half of Iranians are under 35 but the youth unemployment rate is 25%, more than two and a half times the national average. |
| However, conservatives say strong economic growth is more likely to come from domestic production in what they describe as a "resistance economy" that draws on the ideals of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. | However, conservatives say strong economic growth is more likely to come from domestic production in what they describe as a "resistance economy" that draws on the ideals of the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. |
| Results for the Assembly of Experts are expected over the weekend. | |
| The results of the parliamentary election could take longer and it is likely to go to a second round in April. | |
| Candidates need 25% of the vote to win outright and there are an average of 17 candidates per seat. |