Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said restrictions on internet access in the country had failed to achieve their intended result. Aref said VPN programs used to access blocked services also pose a security threat.
Aref made the remarks during a meeting with clerics in the city of Qom, where he discussed restrictions on access to some foreign websites and applications. Arguing that an approach based on boycotting technology was ineffective, Aref compared the internet to a highway.
Asking whether the entire highway should be closed when a vehicle violates the rules on the road, Aref said action should instead be taken against the vehicle that committed the violation.
The Iranian First Vice President said that despite access restrictions, many people in the country were able to reach restricted services by using VPNs. Aref said Iran should draw on Islamic and Iranian culture in its approach to the internet.
Aref also said Iran needed to establish sovereignty in cyberspace and be able to manage the area. Aref noted that filtering practices had weakened control over internet security and said the negative consequences of this problem had been encountered in recent wars.
Access to foreign social media and messaging platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, X and YouTube has long been restricted in Iran. Users can access these services through VPN programs.