Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, media reports

Iran lifted a ban on WhatsApp on Tuesday. The restrictions were in effect for over two years.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Times of Israel.

According to media reports, Iran's Supreme Council, which is responsible for protecting the Internet, voted on December 24 to lift the ban on the popular messenger.

“The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was lifted by a unanimous decision of the members of the Supreme Council for Cyberspace,” the IRNA agency wrote.

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel clarified that the country's Supreme Council is headed by the president of Iran, and its composition includes the speaker of parliament, the head of the judiciary and several ministers.

“Today, we have unanimously and on the basis of consensus taken the first step towards lifting restrictions on the Internet,” said Iranian Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi.

The publication added that it is currently unclear when the decision will take effect. At the same time, the move has sparked a debate in Iran, with critics of the restrictions saying the controls are costing the country dearly.

“The restrictions have brought nothing but anger and added costs to people's lives,” said presidential adviser Ali Rabiei.

On the same day, Tuesday, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif said that President Masoud Pezeshkian believed in lifting the restrictions and did not believe the bans were in the interests of the people and the country.

However, others cautioned against lifting the restrictions. The reformist Shargh daily reported yesterday that 136 lawmakers out of 290 parliamentarians had sent a letter to the council, saying the move would be a “gift to the enemies (of Iran – ed.)”.