Iran reformists join Rouhani allies for parliament run

Iranian reformists seeking greater democratic change and so-called moderates supporting President Hassan Rouhani’s outreach to the West have formed an alliance to increase their chances ahead of February 26 parliamentary elections.

Prominent reformist Mohammad Reza Aref, a former vice president and a candidate in the upcoming vote, says his supporters and Rouhani allies have agreed to release a joint list of candidates in order to more effectively challenge hard-liners and conservatives, who remain split.

Some 6,200 candidates – including 586 women – have been approved to run for Iran’s 290-seat parliament. Over 12,000 hopefuls had initially registered for the election.

The vote will largely be a referendum on Rouhani following last summer’s landmark nuclear deal, which curbed Iran’s atomic activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

— AP