The first Iranian newspapers appeared in the mid-19th century during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah.[1] More specifically, the first newspaper in Iran, Kaghaz-e Akhbar (The Newspaper), was launched for the government by Mirza Saleh Shirazi in 1837.[2] By 1907 (the era of the Persian Constitutional Revolution), there were 90 newspapers circulating in Iran.[3]
In 1952 under Mohammad Musaddiq's government there were 300 newspapers, including twenty-five dailies.[4] During the 1979 revolution the number of newspapers was 100, of which twenty-three were dailies.[4]
As of 2000 there were 23 Persian dailies, three English dailies and one Arabic daily in the country.[5] In the period between 2000 and 2004 a total of 85 newspapers were closed down in Iran.[6]