Iran threatens to permanently block WhatsApp and Instagram, which are very popular in the country, DPA reports, citing Agerpres.

Anti-social poster in Tehran, IranPhoto: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

The American company Meta has not yet responded to a letter sent in early December by the Iranian authorities, in which they demanded that Meta open a representative office in Iran and adapt its principles to the norms of the Islamic republic.

“If Meta does not respond to our letter, it could be a prologue to a permanent blockade,” the head of Iran’s Cyber ​​Center, Abolhassan Firouzabadi, said in an interview published on Saturday.

Iran’s special services have already blocked Instagram and WhatsApp amid three months of anti-government protests that have been brutally suppressed by the authorities.

According to Tehran, both programs were involved “in a conspiracy against Iran led by foreign enemies”.

Iranian authorities are also considering legal action against Meta.