Roula Khalaf, the editor of the Financial Times, has a knack for curating her top reads in a weekly newsletter that’s worth diving into.
In a noteworthy development, Iran’s reformist government, under the leadership of Masoud Pezeshkian, has decided to lift the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play. This marks an initial move towards loosening internet restrictions in a country home to 85 million individuals.
Reports from Iranian media indicate that a significant meeting led by the president on Tuesday managed to overcome pushback from the more rigid factions within the Islamic regime. This shift signals the government’s intent to alleviate some of the pressures on its civil society.
Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s telecommunications minister, expressed on platform X, “Today, we have taken the first step in lifting internet restrictions by showing unity. This journey will continue.”
This decision arrives on the heels of Pezeshkian’s refusal to endorse a new hijab law pushed by the hardline parliament. The proposed law sought stricter penalties for women not adhering to traditional dress codes. Additionally, his administration has subtly reinstated various university students and professors who had previously been banned from pursuing their studies or teaching.
Iran’s Islamic regime is currently facing increasing economic, political, and social challenges, both internally and across the Middle East. This has been compounded by the unexpected fall of the Syrian government, led by Bashar al-Assad, a key regional ally.
Historically, the regime has shown resilience through crises, maintaining its hold on power. Yet, the convergence of both domestic and international challenges raises questions: Will the leadership choose to tighten its grip, or will it lean towards implementing reforms?
On one side, hardliners argue that the internet serves as a “soft war” instrument wielded by adversaries like the US and Israel against the Islamic republic. Conversely, reformists believe repression only fuels public dissatisfaction.
Pezeshkian, elected president in July, campaigned on promises to better economic and social conditions. His agenda prominently featured easing dress code restrictions for women and lifting internet censorship.
Historically, hardliners have clamped down on websites such as X, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. However, Iranians have continued accessing these sites through widely used VPNs available in local markets.
Reformist politicians have accused their hardline counterparts of hypocrisy, suggesting that while they enforce internet censorship, they also stand to profit from the VPN market, allegedly with ties to the companies offering these services.
Ali Sharifi Zarchi, a reinstated pro-reform university professor, viewed Tuesday’s decision as “a positive and hopeful first step.” Nonetheless, he urged, “This progress shouldn’t just stop with these two platforms.”
