Ahmadinejad's hand strengthened in poll

IRAN: RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES yesterday claimed victory in Iranian parliamentary elections, deepening the divide between Tehran and the west.

With just over half the seats decided last night, official reports said that supporters of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other hardliners had won 120, against 46 for their reformist challengers, who had been barred from standing in many constituencies.

Tehran's 30 seats had not been declared, but conservatives were also claiming to have won a clear majority in the capital. The Iranian leadership portrayed the vote as an act of popular defiance in the face of international sanctions over the country's nuclear programme.

The possibility that Iran might suspend its enrichment of uranium, in line with UN security council demands, is now negligible, Iranian political analysts said. The EU issued a statement yesterday expressing "its deep regret and disappointment that over a third of prospective candidates were prevented from standing in [ the] elections. As a result, the election was neither fair nor free," a statement said.

Iran's interior ministry said the turnout had been 60 per cent, although some opposition members and political observers expressed scepticism. Mr Ahmadinejad is now well positioned for next year's presidential elections.

- (Guardian service)

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times