Title: Negotiations Pave the Way for Telegram’s Impending Unblocking in Iran
In a significant political development, Iranian authorities have indicated that the popular messaging platform Telegram is on the verge of being unblocked, following a series of successful negotiations.
A Key Government Promise Nears Fruition
The unblocking of international platforms has been a consistent pledge from the government of President Pezeshkian. After a year and a half in office, progress is being reported, with officials confirming that a major breakthrough is imminent. According to Mustafa Pourdehghan, a member of the Iranian Parliament, “The lifting of filtering remains a serious public demand, and no external pressure will prevent this from being realized.”
Diplomatic Engagements Bear Fruit
Pourdehghan, who serves as the Secretary of the Parliament’s Industries and Mines Commission, revealed that extensive talks have been held with Telegram’s management. He stated that “recent information we have received points to repeated negotiations and meetings with Telegram managers, leading to an internal decision to unblock it.”
The MP from Ardakan clarified that “some colleagues in the Ministry of Communications informally announced to us that Telegram will be unblocked soon.” He emphasized that national considerations and security frameworks are paramount in these discussions and must be accepted by the platform’s management.
Framework for Cooperation Established
Drawing a parallel to the previous unblocking of WhatsApp, Pourdehghan explained that a set of standards were successfully agreed upon with that platform. Similarly, he reported “good negotiations” with Telegram, noting that while not all points have been settled, “acceptances from the platform’s managers are happening.”
Initial hopes were for the unblocking to occur this week, but the process was delayed due to some disagreements. However, officials remain optimistic that the platform will be accessible in the near future.
Addressing Underlying Challenges
The MP also addressed complexities surrounding the issue, pointing to significant external pressures. He highlighted the substantial financial turnover from the sale of VPNs, suggesting that powerful vested interests are resisting the unblocking of platforms. Pourdehghan stated that an official parliamentary inquiry is underway to investigate these behind-the-scenes pressures, affirming the government’s commitment to its step-by-step approach to opening the digital space for the Iranian people.