Hard-line allies of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are set to retain control of parliament, partial election results suggest.
Conservative candidates in Iran's general election have kept control of parliament, in line with expectations.
But conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad also appear to be making a strong showing that could undermine his domination of the parliament.
They did particularly well in the capital, Tehran, which is seen as the key to parliamentary power.
Reformists also hailed successes, despite the barring of large numbers of their candidates from the race.
However, many of the conservative winners are critics of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The EU has criticised the conduct of the vote as "neither fair nor free".
Reformists saw a small increase in their representation, despite the disqualification of many of their proposed candidates.
The BBC's John Leyne says that if the results cause problems for President Ahmadinejad, it will strengthen Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
They are claiming a relative success, given the circumstances of the poll.
That is likely to make Iran's stance on its nuclear programme even tougher, our correspondent says.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that if the new parliament causes problems for Mr Ahmadinejad, this will strengthen the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Associated Press (AP) news agency reports that 190 out of 290 parliamentary seats have been decided so far.
That, he adds, is likely to mean an even tougher line on Iran's nuclear programme and its foreign policy.
Quoting state television and official news agency IRNA, AP says pro-Ahmadinejad politicians have won 67 seats, reformists 30, and conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad 46.
Presidential battle
Independents whose political leanings were not immediately known claimed 42, the agency says, while the remaining five seats are designated for Iran's Jewish, Zoroastrian and Christian minorities.
The conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad include the former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, who could become the new parliamentary speaker.
IRANIAN POLL Eighth parliamentary election since 1979 revolution43 million eligible voters290 seats from 30 provincesAbout 40% of those who applied to stand disqualified by the Guardian Council Analysis: Election foretoldIran in facts and figuresIn pictures: Iran votes Races for some 50 seats were due to go to a run-off vote, it reported.
One minister estimated that conservatives would win more than 70% of the seats.
Our correspondent says there could be quite a battle within the conservative camp to challenge Mr Ahmadinejad in the presidential elections next year.
A spokesman for the main reformist bloc, Abdollah Nasseri, said its candidates - including sympathetic independents - had won 34 seats outside Tehran, and were leading in 15 of the races going to a run-off.
Reformists had said the election was unfair, but still urged voters to turn out for the country's eighth parliamentary elections since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The results from the 30 races in Tehran - where more reformist candidates were allowed to stand - are expected on Sunday or Monday.
Reformist candidates made up the bulk of about 1,700 candidates barred from running by Iran's Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets election candidates. The Guardian Council has denied bias.
If Mr Nasseri's predictions are correct, and if reformists do well in Tehran, they may increase the 40 seats they currently hold in the parliament.
'Cooked'
Correspondents say that the reasonably strong showing among Mr Ahmadinejad's critics - both reformists and conservative - means that the president could be given a rougher ride as he prepares to run for re-election in a year's time.
The Associated Press news agency reports that 190 out of 290 parliamentary seats have been decided so far.
Real winners
Quoting state television and official news agency Irna, AP says pro-Ahmadinejad politicians have won about 70 seats, reformists 31, and conservative critics of Mr Ahmadinejad about 43.
The Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi said around 60% of voters turned out, up from 51 percent in 2004 election
Independents whose political leanings were not immediately known claimed 42, the agency says, while the remaining seats are designated for Iran's Jewish, Zoroastrian and Christian minorities.
But the BBC's John Leyne says that many observers will be sceptical as polling stations in the capital were not busy.
The EU criticised the conduct of the vote as "neither fair nor free". Washington said Iran's leadership had "cooked" the election by barring reformists.
It is Iran's eighth parliamentary poll since its 1979 Islamic revolutionMany people said they felt there was nothing or no-one to vote for, he says.
The Iranian authorities had called for a big turnout to defy the US and other countries who they call Iran's enemies.
Reformists said the election was unfair, but still urged Iran's 44 million eligible voters to turn out for the country's eighth parliamentary elections since its 1979 Islamic revolution. Many reformist candidates were disqualified on the grounds of alleged lack of loyalty to Islamic values, says our correspondent.
They made up the bulk of about 1,700 candidates barred from running by Iran's Guardian Council - an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets election candidates.
The Guardian Council has denied bias.
The election will shape the political map ahead of 2009's presidential poll.
Some analysts expected the poll's real winners to be former members of the hard-line Revolutionary Guards, who could replace the Muslim clergy as the biggest force in the assembly.
