WANA (Nov 08) – Hadi Tahannazif, spokesman for Iran’s Guardian Council, said that any decision on unblocking Telegram hinges on the specifics of a potential agreement.

 

Regarding the issue of lifting the Telegram filter, Tahannazif noted that under Articles 77 and 125 of the Constitution, and in line with Guardian Council interpretations, a definitive opinion requires knowledge of the details of any prospective agreement.

 

He added that the nature of the matter depends on whether such an agreement would be legally binding for the country or closer in nature to a memorandum or contract.

 

“Therefore, until the full text and exact details of the agreement are presented, it is not possible to issue a legal opinion on the matter,” he concluded.

 

Previously, Iran announced that it had set specific conditions for lifting the ban on Telegram, the popular messaging platform blocked in 2018 over national security and legal concerns.

 

According to reports, Iran’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology has begun talks with Telegram under a resolution by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace.

 

The proposed conditions include limiting ethnically provocative content, removing posts upon citizens’ complaints, cooperating with Iran’s judiciary, blocking terrorist or anti–national security channels, and ensuring user data is not shared with foreign intelligence services.

 

Telegram was banned in 2018 after authorities cited its use in organizing unrest, spreading illegal and immoral content, and refusing to comply with Iranian regulations. Officials also expressed concerns over data privacy and the lack of cooperation with domestic oversight bodies.

 

The ban was also part of Iran’s broader policy to promote domestic messaging platforms, encouraging users to adopt homegrown alternatives over foreign apps like Telegram.

Telegram. Social media

Telegram. Social media/ WANA News Agency