Iran's parliamentary elections cover about 200 constituencies and are held every four years for 290 seats. After the disqualification of many prominent liberals, the March 14 polls are now largely a competition between various groups within Iran's conservative political establishment, often referred to as the fundamentalist camp since it gradually moved to the right. The elections remain an important test of public opinion ahead of next year's presidential poll and are likely to be seen as an indication of whether President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's popularity is waning, as his opponents claim.

For further news and analysis of the elections, www.ft.com/iran