Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in&nbsp;Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

With heavyweight moderates and conservatives staying out and reformists calling Friday's election unfree and unfair, the contest was essentially among hardliners and low-key conservatives who proclaim loyalty to Islamic revolutionary ideals.

The interior ministry may announce the official turnout later on Saturday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-cast-his-ballot-in-parliamentary-elections-695441">Iran elections underway as over 15,000 candidates vie for seats in 290-member parliament</a>

Tehran's rulers needed a high turnout to repair their legitimacy, badly damaged by anti-government protests in 2022-23 that spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the revolution.

But official surveys suggested only about 41 per cent&nbsp;of eligible&nbsp;Iranians would vote. That appeared to be the case, as Hamshahri newspaper said more than 25 million people, or 41% of eligible voters, had turned out.

Iran's turnout hit a record low 42.5 per cent&nbsp;in 2020 parliamentary elections, while about 62 per cent&nbsp;of voters participated in 2016.

Hamshahri called Friday's turnout "a 25-million slap” to calls for an election boycott, in a front-page headline next to a depiction of a ballot paper smacking United States&nbsp;President Joe Biden in the face.

Watch:&nbsp;Iran: Array of political, social and economic problems

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The election coincided with growing frustration over&nbsp;Iran's economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.

It was twinned with a vote for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, an influential body tasked with choosing the 84-year-old Khamenei's successor.

Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Unofficial reports on Saturday estimated turnout in Iran’s parliamentary election, seen as a test of the clerical establishment’s legitimacy, at about 40%, which would be the lowest turnout since the 1979 Islamic revolution. With heavyweight moderates and conservatives staying out and reformists calling Friday's election unfree and unfair, the contest was essentially among hardliners and low-key conservatives who proclaim loyalty to Islamic revolutionary ideals. The interior ministry may announce the official turnout later on Saturday. Also Read: Iran elections underway as over 15,000 candidates vie for seats in 290-member parliament Tehran's rulers needed a high turnout to repair their legitimacy, badly damaged by anti-government protests in 2022-23 that spiralled into some of the worst political turmoil since the revolution. But official surveys suggested only about 41 per cent of eligible Iranians would vote. That appeared to be the case, as Hamshahri newspaper said more than 25 million people, or 41% of eligible voters, had turned out. Iran's turnout hit a record low 42.5 per cent in 2020 parliamentary elections, while about 62 per cent of voters participated in 2016. Hamshahri called Friday's turnout "a 25-million slap” to calls for an election boycott, in a front-page headline next to a depiction of a ballot paper smacking United States President Joe Biden in the face. Watch: Iran: Array of political, social and economic problems The election coincided with growing frustration over Iran's economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms. It was twinned with a vote for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, an influential body tasked with choosing the 84-year-old Khamenei's successor.

Iran election turnout around 40 per cent, say unofficial reports

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Iran election turnout around 40 per cent, say unofficial reports