TEHRAN -- Iranian authorities have unexpectedly allowed more moderates to run in two elections on Friday in hopes of boosting turnout, although few believe that voters will come out in droves.
Iranians will be electing 290 parliamentarians and, concurrently, 88 clerics to the Assembly of Experts whose duty is to supervise and elect the supreme leader. Lawmakers serve four-year terms but the clerics are in charge for eight years. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 84, has ruled Iran since 1989.
