The BBC Correspondent in Tehran says he only saw a handful of people at most polling stations he visited.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: Called on people to vote

The government twice extended the closing time, to attract more people.

The poll is to elect the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to appoint and dismiss the Iranian supreme leader.

Our correspondent says a victory for hardliners is inevitable.

He says moderate candidates likely to attract those who overwhelmingly voted in President Khatami last year have almost all been disqualified from standing.

Middle East Correspondent Jim Muir: Brief and low key election campaign

Many people had been expected to boycott the poll because a large number of moderate candidates have been prevented from standing.

It was the first nationwide election since reformist President Mohammed Khatami won a landslide victory last year. His supporters had hoped that the national mood of desire for change might be continued in the election.

Candidates rejected

However the Council of Guardians, an ultra-conservative committee which vets would-be candidates, rejected all but a handful of left wing or reformist candidates.

President Khatami: Many of his supporters were disqualified

That prompted numerous protests and accusations of bias which were duly denied. President Khatami was reported to have protested at the disqualification of many of his supporters.

Out of nearly 400 candidates, only 167 survived to compete for the 86 seats in the Assembly. Some of the moderate candidates who were approved later withdrew.

Many moderate voices called for a boycott, with one notable exception - suspended Tehran Mayor Gholam-Hossein Karbaschi, who urged supporters to turn out and vote for any remaining moderate candidates.