Initial results from Iran's parliamentary elections suggest that
President Ahmadinejad's camp has been dealt a devastating blow, while
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's camp might be gaining a
stronger foothold. The shift will most likely bolster Khamenei's
status inside the Islamic Republic, though it is not estimated to have
a significant effect on the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West.
Iranian Interior Minister Mustafa Muhammad Najjar said voter turnout
was as high as 64%. However the authorities heavily restricted the
movement of foreign reporters during the elections.