Iran elections: moderates hope to take back majority from conservatives

Always the first to cast his ballot, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called on people to “vote wisely” in elections to choose a new parliament and Assembly of Experts.

The outcome of the Islamic republic’s first vote since the signing of a historic nuclear deal could determine the success of leader Hassan Rouhani’s 2017 presidential bid.

Despite progress on the foreign policy front, some hardliners are resisting his attempts at reform on home soil. Others, such as activist Ebrahim Yazdi, are backing reform.

“The importance of this round of elections is that lines are clear and you can tell reformists from conservatives. And well, we’ll go and vote for the reformists,” he told euronews.

More than 6,000 candidates have been approved to stand in the parliamentary election. Among them is moderate candidate Mohammad Reza Aref.

“We made history when President Rouhani was elected in 2013. It was a day of change, and we have to continue this trend to be able to achieve