Iran Lifts Ban on WhatsApp and Google Play Amid Internet Reforms

Iranian authorities have officially lifted the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, signaling a potential easing of the country’s stringent internet restrictions, according to Iranian state media on Tuesday.

Iran has long maintained some of the strictest controls on internet access globally, including bans on major U.S.-based platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Despite these restrictions, tech-savvy Iranians often bypass such measures using virtual private networks (VPNs).

The announcement followed a meeting chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian, where a “positive majority vote” was reached to restore access to certain popular platforms, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, stated, “Today the first step in removing internet limitations… has been taken.”

Social media platforms like WhatsApp have been extensively used by Iranians for communication and mobilization, particularly during anti-government protests. This development comes amid heightened scrutiny over Iran’s digital censorship, with the United States urging tech companies in September to assist in circumventing online restrictions in heavily censored countries, including Iran.

While the unblocking of WhatsApp and Google Play is a significant move, many other popular platforms remain restricted, and it is unclear whether further reforms will follow.