A top Iranian judiciary official has warned against the destructive cultural and social consequences of importing Barbie dolls and other Western toys.

According to Prosecutor General Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi, the Western toys are a danger that should be stopped. He added further, the irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger.

Iranian markets have been flooded with smuggled Western toys in recent years partly due to a dramatic rise in purchasing power as a result of increased oil revenues.

Government seeks to protect Iranians from what it calls the negative effects of Western culture, importing such toys are thus discouraged.

In Monday's letter, Najafabadi called for a crackdown on the smuggling of these toys which threatened Iranian culture saying that they pose a threat to the identity of the new generation.