Iran election extended by two hours with turnout at just 27%

Government hopes for strong turnout to ward off claims people are rejecting the regime by staying at home

Iranians voted for a new parliament on Friday with the turnout after 10 hours only 27%, and just 12% after eight hours in Tehran.

Officials unexpectedly announced that polling booths nationwide would be open an extra two hours until 10pm in a bid to raise the turnout. They predicted the eventual figure would be above the 42.5% recorded the last time parliamentary seats were contested in 2020.