A leading reformist newspaper editor in Iran has been sentenced to six months in jail on charges including "publishing lies" and propaganda against the Islamic government. A press tribunal in Tehran also banned Mohsen Mirdamadi from press activities for four years and fined him two million Iranian rials - about $250. His newspaper, Norouz, was ordered banned for six months. He has 20 days to appeal. 

The reformist editor was found guilty of libel, insulting Iranian leaders and attempting to incite the public. The state-run Iranian news agency, IRNA, says the guilty verdicts were from 22 of the 200 cases filed against him by conservative-controlled organs of the establishment. These include the state broadcaster, the elections supervisory board and the Basij volunteer Islamic militia. 

Mirdamadi is a member of Iran's reformist-controlled parliament and head of its foreign policy and national security committee. On Wednesday, he said he had information about secret meetings between Iran and the United States, a claim denied by government spokesmen in Tehran and Washington. 

The sentencing of the Norouz editor came several days after a hardline court in Iran closed down two other leading reformist newspapers, Iran and Bonyan. Officials later lifted the ban on Iran.

Last week, a veteran Iranian journalist Siamak Pourzand was reported to have been sentenced to eight years in prison for "acting against national security." 

Some information for this report provided by AFP. 

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