Iranians were queuing at polling stations across Iran began to vote in the 2016 elections for the 290-seat parliament and 88-member Assembly of Experts, responsible for choosing the next Supreme Leader.
The two elections, which happened on 26 February, could shape the country's future and although the major presidential election will not take place until 2017, the parliamentary elections occur at a crucial point in Iran's history.
The elections have come at a time of growing rivalry between reformists and conservatives stirred by a deal with world powers that lifted economic sanctions against Tehran, as part of a nuclear agreement signed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the US and five other world powers, despite disagreement from hardliners in Iran.
There is the possibility that the winning candidates of the Assembly of Experts' next term, who will last until 2024, may have to choose the next Supreme Leader of Iran.
Iranian women line up to vote for both parliamentary elections and the Assembly of Experts at a polling station at the Massoumeh shrine in the holy city of Qom, south of TehranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPA woman holds a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a conservatives campaign gathering for the upcoming parliamentary elections and the upcoming vote on the Assembly of Experts, in TehranRaheb Homavandi/ ReutersIranian President Hassan Rouhani casts his vote during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts in TehranReutersAn Iranian woman casts her ballot during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts in TehranRaheb Homavandi/ ReutersIranians fill in their ballots during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts, TehranRaheb Homavandi/ ReutersAn Iranian woman shows her ink-stained finger after casting her vote during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts, which has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader, in TehranRaheb Homavandi/ ReutersAn Iranian voter checks a list of candidates for both parliamentary elections and the Assembly of Experts at a mosque being used as a polling station in TehranAtta Kanare/ AFPIran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fills his ballot during elections for the parliament and Assembly of Experts, which has the power to appoint and dismiss the supreme leader, in TehranReutersIranians line up to vote for both parliamentary elections and the Assembly of Experts at a polling station in the holy city of Qom, south of TehranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPAn Iranian woman casts her ballot in a box designated for the Assembly of Experts at a polling station in the holy city of Qom, south of TehranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPAn Iranian cleric casts his ballot in designated box for parliamentary elections at a polling station in the holy city of Qom, south of TehranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPIranians queue to cast their ballots at a polling station in TehranAtta Kenare/ AFPAn Iranian man stands next to electoral posters of upcoming parliamentary elections in downtown TehranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPAn Iranian woman walks past electoral posters for upcoming parliamentary elections in downtown Tehran, IranBehrouz Mehri/ AFPAn Iranian woman shows her inked finger after casting her ballot at a polling station in TehranAtta Kanare/ AFP
