It is the fourth newspaper to be banned this year by the conservative Iranian judiciary.

The newspaper, Neshat, did not print its Sunday edition, but continues to be published on the Internet.

Tehran's judiciary charged the newspaper with "insulting the sacred decrees of Islam and the supreme leader".

Publication has been prohibited until the case comes to trial.

Neshat last week urged the abolition of the death penalty - prompting critcism from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A statement by the judiciary said the newspaper was not licensed to publish articles of a political nature.

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But according to an editorial statement published on the website, officials at the Islamic Culture and Guidance Ministry believe the decree contravenes the Iranian constitution, because the verdict was issued without any court being convened in the presence of a jury.

The ministry, which issued the paper's press licence, is said to be close to Iran's reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

The website said the issue is scheduled to be raised at a meeting on Monday between Islamic Culture and Guidance Minister Ata'ollah Mohajerani and the head of the judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmud Hashemi-Shahrudi.