Iran Lifts Ban On Whatsapp And Google Play

Iran reformist government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, has lifted the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, a first step towards reducing internet restrictions for its 85 million population.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Pezeshkian, despite opposition 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 comes after Pezeshkian refused to execute a recently enacted hijab law, which would have placed harsher fines on women who do not adhere to the Islamic dress code.

His government has also secretly reinstated dozens of university students and professors who were previously prohibited from academic positions, indicating a broader effort for reform.

Iran’s Islamic dictatorship is under increasing internal and regional pressure, exacerbated by the unexpected collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad, a crucial ally. Domestically, the administration is dealing with economic issues and civil unrest.

Hardliners say that rivals such as the United States and Israel use free internet access to wage a “soft war” against the Islamic Republic. However, reformists argue that excessive repression exacerbates public unhappiness.

Pezeshkian, who won the presidency in July, campaigned on promises to improve economic and social circumstances, including easing dress code rules and lowering internet control.

Despite long-standing restrictions on platforms like X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram, Iranians have persisted to access them via freely available VPNs. Reformist legislators have accused hardliners of profiteering from the VPN sector while imposing internet restrictions.

Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a university lecturer recently reinstated by the administration, praised the lifting of the prohibitions as a “positive and hopeful” development, but warned that more comprehensive reforms are required. “It should not remain limited to these two platforms,” he told me.