The story: Iran’s conservative-dominated establishment has hailed the “epic” turnout in parliamentary runoffs—despite reported single-digit participation in the capital. State officials have come under fire from critics who warn of the implications of a loss of faith in electoral participation. Meanwhile, the victory of hardline candidates suggests that traditional conservatives could face a genuine threat to their dominance.

The coverage: Iranians voted in parliamentary runoff elections on May 10, with the results indicating that the next legislature will go even...