Ahmadinejad suffers major parliamentary poll setback

Tehran, May 6 (ANI): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suffered a major setback in a run-off parliamentary polls that could influence the outcome of next year's presidential elections.

Ahmadinejad's supporters won just 13 of the 65 seats that were up for election in Friday's vote, further reducing his power base in the 290-seat parliament.

Final results announced on state TV showed Ahmadinejad's main conservative rivals had won 41 seats of those contested, while independents won 11.

Ahmadinejad's supporters appeared to have fared the best in Iranian capital Tehran, where nine seats were won out of a total of 25, The BBC reports.

The new parliament will begin its session in late May.

All of the candidates had to be pre-approved by Iran's Guardian Council, which means the contests are effectively between different conservative factions, supporters of the Supreme Leader and Ahmadinejad. (ANI)