The bill includes changes to the current, relatively liberal press law in several key areas, such as referring some press offences to the revolutionary courts, where there is no jury and no access to lawyers.

At present all press offences are heard in ordinary courts with the presence of a special jury.

But conservatives have attacked the jury as being too lenient. The new bill would give them a bigger say in the jury selection process.

Press freedom

The bill also stipulates that conservative-controlled bodies should have a much stronger presence in a committee which can decide to close down offending papers.

The proposals have been widely attacked in the Iranian media and are being been opposed by the reformist government of President Mohammed Khatami.

The Iranian press has enjoyed greater freedom since Mr Khatami took office about two years ago, but conservatives in the Iranian leadership have accused the liberal press of undermining Islamic values.

Two months ago the liberal newspaper Zan, meaning woman, was banned after carrying a message from the widow of the former Shah.

The paper's owner, a daughter of ex-President Hashemi Rafsanjani, is expected to be put on trial for publishing the message.

Power struggle

Correspondents say the ban was the result of an increasingly bitter power struggle between the moderate president and conservative factions that has led to the closure of a number of newspapers and the arrest of several editors.

The BBC's Iranian Affairs correspondent, Sadeq Saba, says many journalists believe the bill, if approved, will give more power to conservative-controlled bodies to close down independent newspapers.