TEHRAN: Reformist and moderate Iranian politicians allied with President Hassan Rouhani won a big victory in second round parliamentary elections and capped a remarkable comeback on Saturday after years of isolation.

The outcome represents a significant realignment of competing factions in the Islamic republic, with conservative MPs losing their dominance and being outnumbered for the first time since 2004.

It was also an implicit public vote of confidence in Mr Rouhani, who won a landslide victory in 2013 and went on to clinch a historic deal with world powers over Tehran’s nuclear programme that lifted sanctions.

Official results also showed 17 women were elected – eight more than at present and the highest female representation since the country’s revolution in 1979.

Almost a quarter of parliament’s seats were at stake in run-offs on Friday in what was a showdown between reformists and conservatives seeking to influence the country’s future.

Although Iran’s parliament has marginal powers – under the country’s rule clerics can veto legislation – the result will help the government deliver economic reforms such as a new oil contracts law that could tempt foreign majors.

It could also speed up social change demanded by reformists.

Their return as a major force is a shake-up for hardliners in Tehran after an era of diplomatic clashes with the West over a nuclear programme that, before Mr Rouhani, had left Iran under threat of military attack. Most lawmakers who opposed the landmark agreement struck last year after years of talks with Tehran’s long-time foe the United States and other leading nations were rejected by voters.

That verdict should make Mr Rouhani’s job easier.

Iran does not have rigid party affiliations, making election outcomes opaque. Some candidates were backed by both camps and others stood as independents.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2016