The body temperature of an Iraqi man returning from Iran is measured upon his arrival at the Najaf International Airport on Feb 21, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Haidar Hamdani)

DUBAI: Iran on Sunday (Feb 23) announced a 42 per cent turnout in its parliamentary election, the lowest rate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, while its top leader said Tehran's enemies played up the new coronavirus threat to dissuade people from voting.

With Iran facing growing isolation and threats of conflict over its nuclear standoff with the United States, and increasing discontent at home, the turnout is seen as a referendum on the popularity of the Islamic republic's rulers.