In order to direct users to domestic applications, Iran has annulled Telegram’s license to “content distribution network” (CDN), the most popular messaging application in the country. In a statement made by the Iranian Telecommunications Infrastructure Company, it was reported that the content distribution network Telegram were deactivated on the instruction of the Supreme Council of Iranian Cyber-Institution.

Iranian President Adviser Hüsameddin Aşina also explained that he had canceled the licenses of the distribution network in the country after Telegram did not fulfill its the promises.

Following the mandate, it was stated that access to the Telegram in Iran was restricted especially in video sharing.

Rıza Cevaheri, President of the Presidential Strategic Management Center, said that the use of foreign messaging practices in state institutions are forbidden.

Following the announcement, a statement made from the office of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the account of the office would be “closed for the purpose of protecting national interests and supporting domestic social media applications”, and users were directed to local alternatives.

Iranian state television has also announced that President Hasan Ruhani has closed the Telegram account. Iranian President of the Supreme Council of the Siber Institution Ebdulhasan Firuzabadi announced yesterday that 12 million Iranian users have gone to domestic messaging, especially Soroush, within a week following the ban on foreign messaging in state institutions in Iran.

Iran is forcing the use of its own networks by forbidding Telegram in order to control all kinds of speech, once again proving that the state is restricting the freedom of individual election.