"Iran" newspaper, that is published by the official news agency IRNA said Mr. Geranpayeh has been charged with "fabricating news and spreading lies" and is awaiting trial in Tehran's Evin prison after he failed to raise the money.

[Quoting judiciary sources, IRNA said it is possible that Mr. Gernapayeh’s bail be increased to 550 million toomans. Though the agency did not say why Judge Mortazavi, who is better known as the "Butcher of the press" has decided to double the bail imposed on Mr. Gernapayeh, but analysts said this might be a way to prevent the Guidance Ministry to bail him out].

The NIRSOP, which is sponsored by the Islamic Guidance and Culture Ministry, was one of the three polling institutions that conducted a poll showing that not only some 75 per cent of Iranians supports normalising relations with the United States, but also 54 per cent consider Iran’s policy towards the United States is not correct.

In a statement, Mr. Khameneh'i said those who favours talking to America are either "ignoring the abc of politics or lack any proud" and on his orders, the Judiciary banned the press of publishing any item supporting dialogue with Washington.

Mr. Qasem Sho’leh Sa’di, a spokesman for the "neo-reformers" who calls for radical changes, said the poll’s results put Mr. Khameneh'i in a very difficult situation. "Now he must say if he considers 75 per cent of Iranians as lacking national proud of ignoring the abc of politics", he had told IPS.

The conservatives accused the government of having deliberately disclosed the results from the polls. But reformist lawmakers who also are in favour of opening dialogue with the United States rejected the accusations, stating that the decision-makers should follow the will of the people.

Ever since the release of the results by IRNA, the conservatives-controlled press has mounted an unprecedented campaign against the reformists-dominated Majles for having commissioned the opinion poll.

IRNA’s General Director, Mr. Abdollah Naseri, Mr. Ahmad Borqani, a former Deputy Islamic Guidance Minister and reformist MM (Member of the Majles) and Mr. Geranpayeh, who’s organisation had been closed, have been summoned by the leader-appointed Mortazavi, charged with spreading lies and ignoring the leader’s instructions.

"It is obvious that the charges are politically motivated", Mr. Reza Alijani, an independent journalist said, explaining the summons.

"The poll shows clearly that the majority of Iranians are in favour of resuming relations with the United States, which is in total contradiction of the opinion sustained by the ruling minority" pointed out Mr. Alijani, who is close to the banned Nationalist-religious groups, talking from Tehran with the Persian service of Radio France Internationale (RFI).

He also reminded that the conservatives have increased their pressures on the reformists, both in the parliament and in the press, since the government submitted to the Majles two bills aimed at reforming electoral laws and giving the president more power in conducting his responsibilities.

 "By taking the issue to the press and launching new offensives on the reformists, the monopolists wants to further reinforce their dwindling powers", Mr. Alijani noted, adding that judging issues like polling, which is a very technical problem, is beyond the capacities of simple judges (like Mr. Mortazavi).