Conservatives win elections to Iranian assembly

TEHRAN, OCT 25: Iran’s conservatives won a decisive victory today in elections for a clergy-based assembly that oversees the country’s supreme leader.

The results were expected since most moderates had been dropped from the ballot by a hard-liners dominated council that reviews candidate’s eligibility. The hard-liners won at least 54 places on the 86-seat Assembly of Experts and the moderates only 13.

Sixteen seats went to candidates whose political affiliation was unclear but who probably lean toward the hard-line camp, and three to independents, believed to be closer to the moderates.

The outcome is a blow to moderates who had hoped to use the Assembly of Experts to curb the absolute powers of the supreme leader and broaden social and political freedoms for the average Iranian.