Iran has banned the production of Valentine's Day gifts and any promotion of the day celebrating romantic love to combat what it sees as a spread of Western culture, Iranian media reported.
The February 14 celebration named after a Christian saint is not officially banned but hardliners have repeatedly warned about the corruptive spread of Western values. Under Iran's Islamic law, unmarried couples are not allowed to mingle.
The printing works owners' union issued an instruction on the ban, imposed by Iranian authorities, covering gifts such as cards, boxes with the symbols of hearts and red roses.
"Honoring foreign celebrations is the spread of Western culture," said the union's head, Ali Nikou Sokhan, ILNA news agency reported. "Our country has an ancient civilization and various days to honor kindness, love and affection."
Valentine's Day has become increasingly popular among the Iranian youth and is a money-maker for businesses in a country where 70 percent of people are under 30 and have no memory of the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah.
"Printing and producing any products related to Valentine's Day, including posters, brochures, advertising cards, boxes with the symbols of hearts, half-hearts, red roses and any activities promoting this day are banned," read the instruction. "Authorities will take legal action against those who ignore the ban."
Some nationalists have suggested replacing Valentine's Day with "Mehregan," an Iranian festival celebrated since the pre-Islamic era. Mehr means friendship, affection or love.
據伊朗媒體報道，為抵制西方文化在本國傳播，伊朗政府已頒布“情人節禁令”，禁止生產節慶禮品、或舉辦與這一浪漫愛情節日有關的慶祝活動。
盡管伊朗并未明令禁止慶祝情人節，但強硬派已反復警告大家這是西方價值觀在伊朗的腐蝕性蔓延。伊朗的伊斯蘭法律規定，未婚伴侶不得過分親密。每年2月14日的情人節（又稱圣瓦倫丁節）是以一名基督教徒的名字來命名的。
印刷業主協會公布了一份有關伊朗政府推行情人節禁令的指令，包括禁止生產帶有心形或玫瑰圖案的賀卡和禮盒等禮品。
據伊朗國家通訊社報道，該協會領袖阿里?尼卡?蘇汗表示：“慶祝外國節日是傳播西方文化。伊朗有著悠久的文明史，有很多慶祝善良、愛情以及親情的傳統節日。”
情人節在伊朗年輕人中越來越受歡迎，同時也是商家的賺錢良機。伊朗70%的公民都在30歲以下，而且對推翻親美政權的1979年伊斯蘭革命毫無印象。
禁令規定：“不允許印刷或生產任何情人節相關產品，包括印有心形、半心形、紅玫瑰圖案的海報、宣傳冊、廣告卡、和禮盒等，也不允許舉辦情人節慶祝活動。如有違反，政府將采取法律措施。”
一些民族主義者建議用“麥赫爾干節”取代情人節，這一節日在前伊斯蘭時期就有，象征著友誼、親情或愛情。