Iranians await crucial election results

Interior Ministry said on Saturday around 60 percent of voters cast ballots in the elections after voting hours were extended five times to allow millions of latecomers to participate.

At least 33 million out of 55 million eligible voters took part in polls for the parliament and the Assembly of Experts, ministry spokesman Hossein-Ali Amiri said.

The numbers will increase as not all ballots have been counted, he added.

President Hassan Rouhani hailed the voter turnout as he held talks with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann in Tehran about developing new relations.  

“People’s participation was enthusiastic, lively and exceptionally glorious. The congestion of the crowd was so high that the elections lasted until midnight,” he said during a joint news conference in Tehran.