October 25-2013
The Islamic Republic is still studying what to do about Facebook and Twitter, the government says, while denying a report they would remain blocked.
State broadcasting quoted the new minister of telecommunications and information technology, Mahmud Vaezi, who has long been close to President Rohani, as saying the ban on the social networking sites would remain in place. Hours later, however, he was quoted as denying making such remarks and said the issue is still under study.
President Rohani uses Twitter and Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has both a Twitter and a Facebook page. There is a Twitter and Facebook page in the name of Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenehi, which appears to be genuine although Khamenehi denies any tie to them.
In a statement posted late Monday on his ministry’s website, ic.gov.ir, Vaezi said the issue of blocking or unblocking a site is to be decided by a professional body outside his ministry.
“I haven’t made such remarks…. Such issues are being studied by a working group outside the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The public will be informed as soon as a decision is made,” he said.
Rohani has advocated a policy of openness in social issues.
