Al-Monitor- Iran�s�minister of communications and information technology is continuing to criticize�unelected�governmental�bodies for their attempts to block social media and messaging services.


Iran�s judiciary shut down Telegram, a popular messaging service�with approximately 40 million users in Iran, after conservative officials complained that national security vulnerabilities had been introduced by the�Telegram servers and that the user information of tens of millions of Iranians was being stored outside of the country. The communications minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, who has championed a more open online environment, said Iranians will use virtual private networks to bypass the current blocks on Telegram, thus creating�more serious�security challenges.

The blocking of Telegram is not the only obstacle hindering�the efforts of the administration of President Hassan Rouhani. Following a�parliamentary�report on dual nationals working within government institutions, Iran�s Intelligence Ministry has written an�open letter�defending its monitoring�of dual nationals. The issue�has become a hot topic once again in conservative media outlets.

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