Tehran, Iran’s capital of 12 million, a city which is called "enormous," has gone through 15 mayoral elections involving various political groups within the Islamic Republic power structure since the 1979 revolution.
Tehran's mayor is chosen by Tehran's City Council. While the Principlists have received a majority of the votes between 2002 and 2013 owing to the sweeping disqualification of Reformists or sulking citizens avoidance of the ballot box, the tide has turned and the Reformists have a decisive majority in the council and are considered the municipality's decisive voice.