Iran has taken a major step toward easing its strict internet restrictions by voting to lift the ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, according to state media reports.
The decision came after a meeting headed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, where authorities reached a "positive majority vote" to remove limitations on these popular platforms, as reported by Iran's official news agency IRNA.
Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Sattar Hashemi, called this move "the first step in removing internet limitations." The timing for implementing these changes remains unclear.
The policy shift has sparked intense debate within Iran. Presidential adviser Ali Rabiei supported the decision, noting that previous restrictions had only created public frustration and financial burden. However, 136 members of Iran's 290-member parliament expressed opposition, demanding that access should only be granted if platforms comply with Islamic values and Iranian laws.
Iran maintains some of the world's strictest internet controls, with major platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) remaining blocked since 2009. WhatsApp and Instagram joined the restricted list following nationwide protests in September 2022 after Mahsa Amini's death in custody.
Despite these restrictions, many Iranians have routinely bypassed the bans using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). The latest decision reflects President Pezeshkian's campaign promise to ease internet restrictions, marking a potential shift in Iran's approach to digital access.
This development comes after the United States urged major technology companies to help circumvent online censorship in countries with heavy internet restrictions, including Iran.