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Iran rejects minister’s request to lift Twitter ban

August 15, 2018 at 9:09 am

Iran’s public prosecutor yesterday rejected a request by Communications Minister, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi to lift the ban on social media website, Twitter.

“Twitter belongs to our American enemies, so the ban will not be lifted,” deputy chief attorney general Abdolsamad Khoramabadi said.

“The minister should work to strengthen local internet platforms instead of promoting US platforms,” Fars news agency quoted Khoramabadi as saying.

Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, 35, the youngest minister in President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet has repeatedly defended the freedom of the internet.

Iran’s Khamenei bans direct talks with US

Many prominent Iranian figures, including Rouhani and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, have official accounts on Twitter and even Iranian Supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has posts shared under his name on Twitter, although he does not use the site himself.

Social networking sites like Twitter, Telegram, Instagram and Facebook are banned in Iran after opponents used them to criticise the regime and organise demonstrations.

However, according to the minister, nearly 30 million Iranians evade the ban and use the sites.