Ali Jannati, Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance, recently made frontpage news when he said Iran should legalize social media, including Twitter and Facebook.
"Legalize Facebook", the lead headline of state run newspaper #Iran #ایران
Omid Memarian
@Omid_M
"Legalize Facebook", the lead headline of state run newspaper #Iran #ایران
He does not have the actual authority to remove the restrictions, he added in statements to Iran's state news agency.
Iran currently blocks access to social networking sites, and others it deems politically sensitive.
However, a reported 2 million Iranians have Facebook and Twitter pages, using VPNs to bypass the ban.
President Hassan Rouhani, who was elected in June, has gained a reputation as a regular Twitter user, memorably wishing world Jewry a happy new year in September.
On Tuesday, he had some kind Twitter words for the Vatican.
Thank u @Pontifex for ur warm wishes for health&welfare of my ppl. Hope together we can work towards a World agst Violence & Extremism #WAVE
Hassan Rouhani
@HassanRouhani
Thank u @Pontifex for ur warm wishes for health&welfare of my ppl. Hope together we can work towards a World agst Violence & Extremism #WAVE
Today, Iran & Vatican have common goals--eliminating poverty & inequality based on divine teachings--& common enemies--extremism & terrorism
Hassan Rouhani
@HassanRouhani
Today, Iran & Vatican have common goals--eliminating poverty & inequality based on divine teachings--& common enemies--extremism & terrorism
And on Wednesday he retweeted this statement from Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Met IR Iran President @HassanRouhani today. Congratulated him on Iran's #WorldCup qualification & discussed importance of women's football.
Joseph S Blatter
@SeppBlatter
Met IR Iran President @HassanRouhani today. Congratulated him on Iran's #WorldCup qualification & discussed importance of women's football.
Several other Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham, also have Facebook and Twitter accounts.
#FF a little early.
Even Ayatollah Khamenei has one.
Social media has become a flashpoint. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister started a counter-Iran campaign on Twitter, calling Iranian official overtures two-faced.
Retweet and show The Real Face of #Iran. #stopthecharmoffensive
PM of Israel
@IsraeliPM
Retweet and show The Real Face of #Iran.
#stopthecharmoffensive
Retweet and Keep the Pressure On. #StopTheCharmOffensive
PM of Israel
@IsraeliPM
Retweet and Keep the Pressure On. #StopTheCharmOffensive
The tweets-for-tat come amidst reportedly promising developments in American-Iranian diplomatic relations and ongoing nuclear negotiations.
Current environment--brought about by Iranian ppl in recent election--offers unique & unprecedented opportunity for nuclear negotiations 2/2
Hassan Rouhani
@HassanRouhani
Current environment--brought about by Iranian ppl in recent election--offers unique & unprecedented opportunity for nuclear negotiations 2/2
Good progress has been made in #nuclear negotiations w/ P5+1. We hope to witness new & more effective steps in the right direction soon 1/2
Hassan Rouhani
@HassanRouhani
Good progress has been made in #nuclear negotiations w/ P5+1. We hope to witness new & more effective steps in the right direction soon 1/2
The Twitter fanfare also followed large anti-US demonstrations by hardline Iranians in Tehran on Monday. Rouhani's government has reportedly used Twitter as one means to counter this conservative opposition to his overtures to the west.
No one should consider our negotiators as compromisers, they are our own children and the children of the Revolution.
khamenei.ir
@khamenei_ir
No one should consider our negotiators as compromisers, they are our own children and the children of the Revolution.
Political opponents inside Iran still cannot legally tweet back — but expectations are now tepidly higher that others will second the culture minister's call for a social media liberalization.
To solve the country’s problems the look should be turned inward. In #diplomacy a successful country relies on domestic capacity.
khamenei.ir
@khamenei_ir
To solve the country’s problems the look should be turned inward. In #diplomacy a successful country relies on domestic capacity.