Tehran, June 12, IRNA-Iran's government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham here Monday expressed hope the Persian daily `Iran' would be able to resume publication.

The Press Supervisory Board, by a majority of votes, ordered the daily closed on May 23 on charges it was fomenting discord by publishing provocative materials.

The state-run daily was charged in court under a note to Article 12 of the Press Law.

The newspaper, in a special edition on May 12, published a satirical cartoon in its Children's Page which was interpreted to be insulting to the Azari people.

Asked about any plan or move of the government to lift the ban on the daily, Elham said the government was acting merely in accordance with decisions reached by legal bodies and had not used force in this regard.

"It (the government) may have its own views, but we should all observe regulations and let judicial and supervisory bodies fulfill their tasks fairly and accurately." He said the closure of the daily was part of the government's isolation.

"We hope the ongoing probe into the case will reach a successful outcome at the earliest." The spokesman, however, stressed that "violations should be dealt with firmly." He said the fate of the newspaper lies in the outcome of the judicial department's fair and firm probe into the case.

"The government will accept whatever the law says," Elham said.