More candidates to be approved for parliamentary polls: Iranian official

TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (MNA) – A greater number of candidates will be approved by the Guardian Council for participation in the parliamentary elections, council spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaii said on Friday. Kadkhodaii told that the number of candidates whose qualifications have been approved by the Council has passed 3000. More than 5,200 candidates had registered to compete for the 290-seat Majlis, however a number of candidates have withdrawn their bid to run in the elections. The Supreme Leader called on the Guardian Council on Friday to be less rigid in its evaluation of candidates. The parliamentary elections will be held on March 2.