Iran reformists pull out of poll | BBC

[Ediacara]

Iran reformists pull out of poll


Leader Mohammad Reza Khatami
is among the banned candidates

The largest pro-reform party in Iran, the Islamic Participation Front, has said it will not take part in the parliamentary elections on 20 February.

The party leader, Mohammad Reza Khatami, said it had lost hope that the elections would be free and fair.

It follows protracted arguments about the banning of reformist candidates by the conservative vetting body.

The Guardians Council had already barred nearly all of the Islamic Participation Front's candidates.

Mr Khatami, who is also the deputy speaker of parliament and brother of Iran's pro-reform President Mohammad Khatami, is among those barred from the poll.

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