Many voters participate , but others sit it out , saying vote is `` rigged '' The parliamentary election features about 3,400 candidates vying for 290 seats . Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's 2009 re-election sent throngs to the streets over fraud allegations . Iran has been in a state of political turmoil since June 2009, when reformist President Mohammad Khatami was overthrown by hardliners who accused him of being too close with Israel.
Many voters participate , but others sit it out , saying vote is `` rigged '' The parliamentary election features about 3,400 candidates vying for 290 seats . Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's 2009 re-election sent throngs to the streets over fraud allegations . Iran faces an escalating international outcry over its nuclear program .