Tehran, July 20 (DPA) Smokers are to be banned from entering high-ranking executive jobs in the Iranian government, the news agency ILNA reported Monday.

According to new regulations approved by the cabinet, relevant applicants should neither smoke nor drink alcohol or take any kind of drugs, to maintain the mental and physical health of future executive officials.

While alcohol has always been banned in Islamic Iran and drug use has been illegal, the smoking ban is new and part of the government's general anti-smoking campaign.

In case of protests by rejected applicants, the final decision is to be made by a medical council from the medical university of their hometowns on whether the required health conditions are met or not, said ILNA, the new agency of the country's labour party.

The new regulations will take effect as soon as inked by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the report said.

It was not clear whether the new regulations apply only for the executive branch or to the legislative and judicial branches as well.