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Iran’s moderates cement election gains in setback for hard-liners Iran’s moderates cement election gains in setback for hard-liners
(about 1 hour later)
Iran’s conservatives took further blows Monday with backers of moderate President Hassan Rouhani grabbing the biggest bloc in parliament, while a prominent hard-line cleric was dropped from a panel that will pick the country’s next leader, officials said. Iran’s conservatives took further blows Monday as backers of moderate President Hassan Rouhani grabbed the biggest bloc in parliament, while a prominent hard-line cleric was dropped from a panel that will pick the country’s next supreme leader, officials said.
The near-final results from Friday’s twin elections appear to cement a surprising surge in favor of Rouhani and his supporters despite many pro-reform candidates being blocked from the ballots by Iran’s election gatekeepers. The near-final results from Friday’s twin elections appear to cement a surprising surge in favor of Rouhani and his supporters despite the disqualification of many pro-reform candidates by Iran’s election gatekeepers.
The parliament elections marked the latest test of strength between Iran’s conservative forces and Rouhani’s coalition, which seeks to ease Iran’s international isolation and had carved out the nuclear deal with world powers that rolled back sanctions. The parliamentary elections marked the latest test of strength between Iran’s conservative forces and Rouhani’s coalition, which seeks to ease the country’s international isolation. The Rouhani government carved out last year’s nuclear deal with world powers that rolled back sanctions in January.
[Moderates make surprising stand][Moderates make surprising stand]
Moderate-leaning voters appeared to complete a clean-sweep in the capital Tehran, giving all 30 parliament seats to candidates believed to be aligned with Rouhani and his policies, the Reuters news agency reported, citing vote tallies from Iran’s Interior Ministry. Moderate-leaning voters appeared to complete a clean sweep in the capital Tehran, giving all 30 parliament seats to candidates believed to be aligned with Rouhani and his policies, the Reuters news agency reported, citing vote tallies from Iran’s Interior Ministry.
Around the country, pro-Rouhani candidates and others considered “moderate conservatives” took a majority of the 290-member parliament, the Associated Press reported, citing results from state TV showing the two groups holding at least 158 seats, including 85 for Rouhani’s allies. Around the country, pro-Rouhani candidates and others considered “moderate conservatives” took a majority of the 290-member parliament, according to the Associated Press. The news agency cited results from state TV showing the two groups holding at least 158 seats, including 85 for Rouhani’s allies.
But hard-liners and others remain a significant voice in Iranian affairs, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard that controls all key military wings and programs such as missile development. Also, parliament’s role is limited as every key decision remains in the hands of the ruling clerics headed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. About 60 other races will go to a second-round, runoff election, officials said.
But hard-liners and others remain a significant voice in Iranian affairs, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard that controls all key military wings and programs such as missile development. Also, parliament’s role is limited, as every key decision remains in the hands of the ruling clerics headed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
[Perils still remain for Iran’s reformers][Perils still remain for Iran’s reformers]
Khamenei’s approval was needed to move ahead with the nuclear accord, giving critical support to Rouhani. The surprising swell in favor of Rouhani in last week’s voting also could signal a show of solidarity from the streets against hard-liners before Rouhani faces re-election next year. Khamenei’s approval was needed to move ahead with the nuclear accord, giving critical support to Rouhani. The surprising swell in favor of Rouhani in last week’s voting also could signal a show of solidarity from the streets against hard-liners before Rouhani faces reelection next year.
It had been expected to be an easier path for conservatives, who have opposed the nuclear deal concessions and questioned Rouhani’s overtures to the West.It had been expected to be an easier path for conservatives, who have opposed the nuclear deal concessions and questioned Rouhani’s overtures to the West.
About half of the candidates who registered to run were disqualified in pre-election vetting by the Guardian Council, a group loyal to the supreme leader that must clear all candidates in major Iranian elections. Pro-reform factions claimed their allies accounted for the bulk of those blackballed from the ballots. About half of the candidates who registered to run were disqualified in pre-election vetting by the Guardian Council, a group loyal to the supreme leader that must clear all candidates in major Iranian elections. Pro-reform factions claimed that their allies accounted for the bulk of those blackballed from the ballots.
[Iran’s Rouhani asks pope for prayers][Iran’s Rouhani asks pope for prayers]
In separate elections, a high-ranking archconservative cleric, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, failed to retain a seat on the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member panel whose main duty is the choose a successor for Khamenei following his death, the Interior Ministry said. In separate elections, a high-ranking arch-conservative cleric, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, failed to retain a seat on the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member panel whose main duty is the choose a successor for Khamenei following his death, the Interior Ministry said.
Yazdi served as head of Iran’s judiciary between 1989 and 1999, a period that included a waves of crackdowns on perceived liberal writers, journalists and others. Yazdi also had made appearances as leader of Friday prayers at Tehran University, an important role that carries messages approved by the ruling clerics. He remains a member of the Guardian Council. Yazdi served as head of Iran’s judiciary between 1989 and 1999, a period that included waves of crackdowns on perceived liberal writers, journalists and others. Yazdi also had made appearances as leader of Friday prayers at Tehran University, an important role that carries messages approved by the ruling Shiite Muslim clerics. He remains a member of the Guardian Council.
Another hard-liner, Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi, also was dropped from the Assembly. Mesbah-Yazdi is a leading figure in the seminary city of Qom, the center of Shiite learning in Iran.Another hard-liner, Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi, also was dropped from the Assembly. Mesbah-Yazdi is a leading figure in the seminary city of Qom, the center of Shiite learning in Iran.
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