Iran's pro-reform government says it is close to resolving a bitter row with hardliners over parliamentary elections that has plunged the Islamic Republic into its worst political crisis for years.
It is still not clear whether the last-ditch attempt to resolve the dispute over the February 20 vote will be enough to satisfy reformists who have threatened to boycott the election.
Reformist allies of President Mohammad Khatami are outraged by the hardline Guardian Council watchdog's decision to declare more than 2,000 candidates unfit to run in the election.
Government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh said an apparent deal to reinstate some of the barred candidates had emerged following crisis talks hosted by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say in all matters in the Islamic state.
"We hope that by tomorrow afternoon we can reach acceptable results which could prepare the ground for the government to be able to hold the election," Ramazanzadeh told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
He said Khamenei has intervened in the crisis, calling on officials to ensure a high turnout in the election. Reformists have said the mass disqualification of candidates would dissuade an already politically-disillusioned public from voting.
"We hope the leader's views will be implemented," he said.
The vast majority of candidates disqualified by the Guardian Council - an unelected oversight body dominated by religious hardliners - were reformist allies of Khatami who hold a majority in the current 290-seat parliament.
Those barred included more than 80 current legislators.