Is TikTok Banned in Iran? Yes, Since 2019 (Here's Why)

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TikTok

Blocked since October 2019, when TikTok cut off users in Iran and the state's filtering committee then banned it. Freedom House still lists TikTok among the global platforms banned in Iran in 2026.

Status: Banned
Country: Iran
Category: Apps & Websites
Banned since: 2019-10
Last checked: 29/10/2026

TikTok’s ban in Iran is unusual because it came from two directions at once. In October 2019, TikTok itself cut off users inside Iran, and Iran’s own censors then added the app to their filter list. The result was a block that was harder to get around than most, even though young Iranians still find ways to post.

How TikTok was blocked in Iran

TikTok stopped serving users in Iran in mid-October 2019. Iranian authorities then had the platform blocked through the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content, the body that decides which websites are filtered. That meant TikTok was shut out by the company and by the state.

For years, a VPN alone was not enough. According to the Atlantic Council, users had to remove their Iranian SIM card or use a second device without one before connecting. In September 2023, users noticed the SIM check had gone, and a VPN became enough to get on the app.

Arrests over viral videos

Using TikTok can carry real risk. In 2023, teenagers who filmed a viral dance to a Selena Gomez song in Iran were detained and made to record an apology video in the same spot, Business Insider reported. Iranian TikTok accounts also helped spread footage during anti-government protests, which helps explain why the state keeps the app blocked.

Is TikTok still banned in Iran in 2026?

Yes. In October 2026, Iran International reported that Freedom House’s 2026 report gave Iran an internet freedom score of just 9 out of 100, and that every major global platform, TikTok included, remains banned. Iran’s internet shutdowns in 2026 made access even harder, and other apps have suffered the same fate: WhatsApp has been restricted again despite its 2024 unblocking, and Instagram has been blocked since 2022.

Iran and India: two different TikTok bans

Iran’s block is part of a wider wall around foreign social media. India’s 2020 TikTok ban was narrower, aimed at Chinese apps after a border clash. For everything else that is off limits, see the full list of apps and websites blocked in Iran.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TikTok banned in Iran?

Yes. TikTok has been blocked in Iran since October 2019, when the company cut off users there and Iran's filtering committee then banned the app. In October 2026, Iran International reported that Freedom House still lists TikTok among the global platforms banned in the country.

Why is TikTok banned in Iran?

Iran filters almost every major foreign social media platform, and TikTok was added to the list by the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content. Iranian TikTok accounts were also used to share protest footage, and authorities have detained young people over viral videos posted on the app.

Can you use TikTok in Iran with a VPN?

Many Iranians do, but it has not always been easy. Until September 2023, users also had to remove their Iranian SIM card or use a second device, because TikTok checked the SIM. After that change, a VPN alone was usually enough, though 2026 internet shutdowns made access harder.

Who blocked TikTok in Iran, the company or the government?

Both. TikTok itself stopped serving users inside Iran in October 2019, and Iran's state filtering committee then blocked the platform. That double block is why TikTok was harder to reach in Iran than other banned apps such as Instagram or YouTube.

Have people been arrested for TikTok videos in Iran?

Yes. In 2023, teenagers who posted a viral dance to a Selena Gomez song were detained and forced to record an apology video in the same location, according to Business Insider. Such cases show that posting on TikTok in Iran can carry legal risk.