"Iranian Election Turnout Hits Record Low Amid Conservative Dominance"

Iran's parliamentary election saw a low turnout amid calls for a boycott, with state-controlled television showing lines of voters while others saw largely empty polling stations. Only 116 relatively moderate or pro-reform candidates are vying for seats out of about 15,000 candidates. The election comes amid economic challenges due to Western sanctions and ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear program. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi urged people to vote, but turnout appeared to be the lowest ever, potentially undermining the government's legitimacy.