Executive By-law of the Press Law Ratified in March 1986
Chapter 1: Definition and Specifications of the Press
Article 1: ln terms of regular publication timetable, the press may be published
in the following intervals
Once in a day (daily), once in a week (weekly), once in two weeks (biweekly), once a
month (monthly), once in two months (bimonthly), once in three months (quarterly),
twice a year (biannual) and once a year (annual).
Article 2: When naming a publication the publisher must use such words which
would prevent the publication from being mistaken with the existing publications or
with those which have been closed down temporarily or permanently and the name
should not bring to mind the latter group of publications. Also the name of the
publication must not be strange and should not create the assumption that the
publication is dependent on revolutionary and government organs.
Article 3: Adoption of any methods other than those specified in Article 1 of the
Press law must conform to the mission of the press.
Article 4: Extraordinary publication of special issues and supplements in the name
of the same publication and in compliance with other specifications cited in the
publisher's license, is permissible provided the publisher observes the provisions of the
Press law.
Note: Such supplements cannot be published regularly.
Article 5: Translation of all or part of materials published by licensed publications
and separate and regular publication of such materials is permissible provided the
publisher observes his/her other commitments indicated in the license.
Article 6: Offset or Xerox reproduction of a publication in the same printed
language and format without the permission of the license holder is prohibited.
Article 7: Materials published in a publication must conform to the methods and
requirements specified in the license of the publisher and the publication is not
allowed to publish matters and articles which go beyond those methods and
requirements and may affect its general policies and objectives.
Article 8: While observing the provisions of Article 2 of the Press law and in
compliance with the demanded method, local dailies and weeklies are obliged to
publish materials about the social and cultural issues of the place of publication, in
order to enhance public awareness.
Article 9: lt is permitted to quote from aberrant or anti-lslamic (domestic and
foreign) publications, groupings and parties for research, criticism or rejection of
their viewpoints provided this would not be tantamount to publicity for them.
Article 1O: No change is permissible in the specifications cited in a license, such
as change of name, method, order and place of publication, or a change in the format
of the publication prior to informing the Press Supervisory Board and obtaining its
approval.
Chapter 2: Requirements for Issuance of License and Permit for Publications
Article 11: Applicants for publication license must submit their application by
completing a questionnaire covering the particulars of the applicant, his/her social,
political, cultural, and professional background and legal commitments along with the
following documents to the Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance in Tehran or to the
Ministry's provincial offices
1. Four 4 x 6 photos
2. Two photocopies of all the pages of the birth certificate;
3. A non-penal conviction certificate showing the applicant has not committed any
act which has led to his deprivation of the social rights according to the lslamic codes;
and
4. A photocopy of the application's latest educational certificate confirmed by the
related departments
Article 12: ln case the applicant for a publication license is a legal person, the
request for the license should be coupled with a letter of introduction by the highest
official in the related organization introducing a qualified managing director. ln case
of approval, the license shall be issued in the name of the center that has requested
the license.
Article 13: Political associations, parties, organizations, and religious minorities
may apply for a publication license provided that they have a legal permit for
operation.
Article 14: The Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance may examine and issue
publication licenses to lslamic liberation organizations of other countries within the
framework of regulations governing foreigners residing in lran, after inquiring the
opinion of related departments, collecting necessary documents and soliciting the
approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 15: A government or private organization, institute or company may
publish an internal bulletin after receiving a license from the Ministry of lslamic
Culture and Guidance by observing the following requirements
1. The application for the bulletin must be made by the highest authority in the
organization and it should include the name of the managing director.
2. Articles and news must be mainly related to the applicant's objectives and
duties and the bulletin must be published only for the use of the concerned
employees.
3. The cover of the bulletin must be plain and no more than two colors should be
used in it.
4. The number of its pages must not exceed 48.
5. The bulletin must be distributed free of charge.
Note 1: (Deleted on September 20, 1987.)
Note 2: The issuance of licenses for government organizations is subject to the
observation of other pertinent regulations.
Article 16: (Deleted on September 20, 1987).
Article 17: The Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance shall issue a license for
the license holder and an identification card for the managing director of the
publication.
Article 18: The Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance may conduct necessary
investigations for implementation of the provisions of Article 11 of the Press law and
report the findings to the Press Supervisory Board. The related ministries and organs
are also required to collaborate with the Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance in
this connection.
Article 19: Applicants disqualified by the Press Supervisory Board based on
paragraph 4 or Note 5 of Article 9 of the Press law are not permitted to reapply for
publishing a publication.
Article 2O: The official date of registration of an application for publication
license shall be the date when all the required documents are submitted by the
applicant.
Article 21: ln case of death of the license holder, his/her legal qualified heirs
shall have the priority to reapply for the license unless they lack the required
qualifications. Should the heirs fail to apply for renewal of the license (in their own
name) during the term specified in Article 16 of the Press law, or, fail to publish the
publication after obtaining the renewed license, their license shall be revoked.
(Reformed on 17/9/1987)
Chapter 3: Issues the Press {License Holders and Managing Directors) Are
Obligated to Observe:
Article 22: Publications printed in the form of daily newspapers are required to
insert their full name, the order and date of publishing, serial and page numbers on top
of each page and the price of the newspaper on the front page. Also publications
printed in the form of magazines are required to insert their full name, the order and
date of the magazine's publication, serial number, the number of pages and the price
of the magazine on the cover and insert page numbers on all pages.
Note: Adding any words or phrases to the name or emblem of the publication other
than those specified in the publication license or printing license is prohibited.
Article 23: Each publication must possess a place as an office. The holder of a
publication license is required to notify in writing the address of his/her publication to
the Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance after obtaining his/her license.
Note: The license holder is required to notify in writing the Ministry of lslamic
Culture and Guidance in Tehran or the Ministry's provincial offices within 48 hours
after change of address of his/her publication.
Article 24: All correspondence bearing the signature of the license holder or
managing director of the publication or any other person introduced to the Ministry in
writing and in advance by the license holder, shall be considered as valid. Where the
Press law and its executive by-law stipulate that correspondence must be signed by
the license holder or managing director of the publication, letters signed by another
person they may introduce, shall not be valid.
Article 25: All publications are required to separately indicate their circulation
number and the number of unsold copies in the required form, specifying places of
distribution, and forward it to the Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance which
shall regard the data as confidential.
Article 26: The managing director of the publication is obligated to announce to
the Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance in writing, the name of the printing
house he/she has concluded a contract with.
Article 27: The managers of printing houses are required to submit two copies of
each publication, simultaneously with the completion of the printing process, to the
Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance in Tehran or to the Ministry's provincial offices
against a receipt.
Article 28: ln case of the cancellation of license of a publication in writing by the
Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance, the license holder is required to return
documents he has obtained, such as publication license, managing director's card
and press cards given to its reporters, within a period of 10 days. Those who abuse
these documents shall be dealt with according to the law.
Chapter 4: Other Regulations
Article 29: The Ministry of lslamic Culture and Guidance must avail of competent
and qualified centers for examination of specialized publications.
Article 3O: By publishing a notice in mass circulation dailies three months before
the expiration of the term of the Press Supervisory Board, the Ministry of lslamic
Culture and Guidance shall invite the managing directors of publications to nominate
themselves as candidates for the Press Supervisory Board and after the verification
of their qualifications by the board members specified in Note 4 of Article 10 of the
Press law it shall again invite all press managing directors to participate in the
elections. Such a meeting shall become valid when participated in by the majority of
the press managing directors; voting shall take place by secret ballots and he who
receives an absolute majority shall be elected as the press representative in the Press
Supervisory Board.
Note 1: lf the majority fail to attend in the first stage, the next meeting shall take
place two weeks later. That meeting shall be official with the presence of one third of
the managing directors.
Note 2: The voting right of a managing director cannot be delegated to another
person.