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Banned in 2022 and freed in December 2024, WhatsApp was restricted again after the 2025 war and the 2026 shutdowns. Since May 2026 it has needed a workaround, though officials have hinted at reopening it.
- Status
- Restricted
- Country
- Iran
- Category
- Apps & Websites
- Banned since
- 2025
- Last checked
- 29/10/2026
Few countries have treated WhatsApp as unpredictably as Iran. In just four years the app was banned, officially freed and then choked again, each time in step with protests, war or internet shutdowns. That is why its status here is “Restricted”: there is no new formal ban, but most people in Iran cannot use WhatsApp without a workaround.
Banned during the 2022 protests
Iran blocked WhatsApp on 21 September 2022, during the nationwide protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Instagram was cut off in the same crackdown, and both stayed blocked for more than two years.
Unblocked in December 2024
On 24 December 2024, Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace voted unanimously to lift the restrictions on WhatsApp and Google Play, calling it a first step toward easing internet filtering. Not everyone agreed: 136 members of parliament signed a letter calling the move a gift to Iran’s enemies. Facebook, X, YouTube and Telegram, blocked since 2018, stayed off limits.
Restricted again in 2025 and 2026
The opening did not last. During the June 2025 war with Israel, Iran cut most internet access and officials urged people to delete WhatsApp, claiming it worked as Israeli spyware. WhatsApp rejected this, saying it does not give bulk information to any government. In January 2026, protests brought a shutdown of about ten days, and from late February Iran spent 88 days almost completely offline. When access returned on 26 May 2026, the monitoring group NetBlocks reported that WhatsApp was restricted and needed circumvention, according to Iran International.
| When | WhatsApp in Iran |
|---|---|
| 21 September 2022 | Blocked during protests |
| 24 December 2024 | Ban lifted by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace |
| June 2025 | War-time shutdown; officials tell people to delete the app |
| January to May 2026 | Protest shutdown, then 88 days of near-total isolation |
| 26 May 2026 | Internet back, WhatsApp restricted |
Could the block be lifted again?
Possibly. In October 2026, Al Jazeera reported on an official document saying Google Play and WhatsApp could potentially be unblocked, while YouTube and Telegram would first have to accept conditions set by the authorities. Until that happens, access stays patchy.
Iran is not alone: Russia blocked WhatsApp in February 2026, and China has done so since 2017. See the full list of apps and websites restricted in Iran.
Sources
- RFE/RL – Iran's Cyberspace Council votes to lift ban on WhatsApp, Google Play
- Iran International – Iran frees WhatsApp and Google Play, keeps tight grip on others
- Wikipedia – 2025 Internet blackout in Iran
- Iran International – Iran restores internet after 88-day blackout, keeps social media blocked
- Al Jazeera – Iran targets Starlink as 'tool of war' with hints of more internet curbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp banned in Iran?
Not formally, but it is restricted. Iran lifted its 2022 ban in December 2024, then cut access again during the June 2025 war and the 2026 internet shutdowns. When international access returned on 26 May 2026, NetBlocks reported that WhatsApp still needed circumvention tools to work.
When did Iran first ban WhatsApp?
Iran blocked WhatsApp on 21 September 2022, during the nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. Instagram was blocked in the same crackdown. The WhatsApp ban lasted until 24 December 2024, when the Supreme Council of Cyberspace voted to lift it.
Why did Iran tell people to delete WhatsApp?
During the June 2025 war with Israel, Iranian officials urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming it worked as Israeli spyware. WhatsApp denied this, saying it does not provide bulk information to any government and warning that false claims could be used as an excuse to block it.
Was WhatsApp unblocked in Iran?
Yes, briefly. On 24 December 2024, Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace voted unanimously to lift restrictions on WhatsApp and Google Play as a first step toward easing internet filtering, despite 136 lawmakers opposing it. Access was later restricted again during the 2025 war and the 2026 shutdowns.
Will WhatsApp be unblocked in Iran again?
It is possible. In October 2026, Al Jazeera reported on an official document saying Google Play and WhatsApp could potentially be unblocked, while YouTube and Telegram would have to accept conditions first. No date has been announced, so access remains patchy for now.