Major reformist parties in Iran have said they won't field any candidates because basic requirements for a free and fair elections have not been met.

In their absence, the vote for the 290-seat assembly will be fought between supporters and opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The Interior Ministry opened the weeklong registration process on Saturday. Each application will be screened by the hard-line constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, before a candidate is allowed to run.

The elections are unlikely to change Iran's course, which is determined by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.