Iran’s reformist government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, has lifted the nation’s ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, marking an initial step toward reducing internet restrictions for its population of 85 million.
The decision, made during a high-level meeting chaired by Pezeshkian, overcame resistance from hardline factions within the Islamic regime, according to Iranian media reports.
Telecommunications Minister Sattar Hashemi described the move as a milestone, writing on X: “Today, we took the first step towards lifting internet restrictions by demonstrating unity. This path will continue.”
The development follows Pezeshkian’s refusal to enforce a recently ratified hijab law that would have imposed stricter penalties on women who do not comply with the Islamic dress code. His administration has also quietly reinstated dozens of university students and professors previously barred from academic roles, signalling a broader push for reform.
Iran’s Islamic regime faces mounting internal and regional pressures, compounded by the unexpected collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad, a key ally. Domestically, the government is grappling with economic challenges and social discontent.
Hardliners argue that unrestricted internet access is exploited by adversaries, including the US and Israel, to wage a “soft war” against the Islamic republic. Reformists, however, maintain that excessive repression only fuels public dissatisfaction.
Pezeshkian, who won the presidency in July, campaigned on promises to improve economic and social conditions, emphasizing the easing of dress code laws and reducing internet censorship.
Despite longstanding restrictions on platforms such as X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram, Iranians have continued to access them through widely available VPNs. Reformist politicians have criticized hardliners for profiting from the VPN market while enforcing internet bans.
Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a university professor recently reinstated by the administration, welcomed the lifting of the bans as a “positive and hopeful” development but cautioned that broader reforms are needed. “It should not remain limited to these two platforms,” he said.
