An Iranian newspaper has been banned for criticising the performance of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the last three years, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported quoting official news agency IRNA on Sunday.
The daily Tehran Emrouz (Tehran Today) had criticised Ahmadinejad's economic and foreign policies in a special bulletin Saturday on the occasion of the third anniversary of his election.
"We have definitely crossed the circles of fairness and moderation—the story was indeed very critical," Tehran Emrouz chief editor Hossein Qorbanzadeh told IRNA. "I would like to apologise herewith to the government officials and will confront those responsible for the story," he added.
Qorbanzadeh said hoped that the issue would soon be settled and the Tehran Emrouz could publish again. The moderate conservative newspaper considered close to Tehran mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, who is critical of Ahmadinejad, was closed down on Saturday by the Press Supervisory Board, a conservative governmental press watchdog.
