A supervisory body affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has imposed a sudden ban on "Rahman 1400," a satirical movie that has achieved extraordinary box office success in the past few weeks. The decision was made after the ministry found the movie in breach of common censorship rules that include strict script-vetting procedures. 

In a series of witty scenes and with a sharp critical tone, the movie shines a spotlight on the consequences of nepotism, embezzlement and the concentration of wealth in the hands of well-connected Iranian elites who manage to dodge the long arm of the law.

Although the Ministry of Culture has not re-distributed an edited version, it is widely believed that its censored version would cut what the authorities would deem sexually explicit and obscene content. According to supporters, however, the move is merely a pressure tool to silence genuine political and social criticism.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran's Ministry of Culture was tasked with aligning cultural products with Islamic principles and ensuring that their form and content do not send "counter-revolutionary" messages. But depending on whether it is Reformists or conservatives who hold office, censorship practices have varied.