With 90% of the votes counted on Sunday, the reformists in Iran have won all 30 parliamentary seats in capital Tehran and are leading over their rivals across the nation. The pro-Hassan-Rouhani-government liberals had formed alliance with moderate conservatives after the country’s Guardian Council, which vets candidates, had refused to let them run for the elections, reported The Independent. Dubbed a "list of hope", the reformists could accelerate the Islamic Republic’s emergence from years of isolation.

Thousands of Iranians came out on February 26 to elect the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The assembly, which appoints Iran's Supreme leader, is likely to name the successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 76 and is suffering poor health.

This election was particularly important for Iran as it comes right after President Rouhani signed a landmark nuclear deal with the world powers, that also saw United Nations lifting sanctions against the country. The deal is expected to open up trade and commerce opportunities for the country. However, Rouhani's critics see the deal as a sell-out to the West. As of Sunday, Rouhani and Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president who the reformists want as the next Supreme Leader, held the first two places among 28 candidates seeking the 16 seats of the Assembly in Tehran.