Iran has unveiled a state-controlled whitelist of “Essential Sites Accessible via the National Internet,” signaling a new era of cyber fortification aimed at insulating the country from perceived foreign manipulation. The list, published by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, spans media outlets, navigation platforms, search engines, social networks, and banking services, all designed to operate independently of US- and Israel-dominated technology infrastructure.
The selection includes state-linked media outlets such as IRIB and IRNA, alongside semi-official sources like Fars and Tasnim, and the independent, moderate ISNA. For navigation and mapping, Iran is relying on homegrown platforms Neshan.org and Balad.ir, local alternatives to Google Maps serving more than 10 million users. Domestic search engines and content aggregators such as Zarebin, Gerdoo, and Shaadbin have been included, with Zarebin and Gerdoo offering smart meta-search functions and enhanced user privacy, while Shaadbin focuses on children and teen audiences.
Social media and communication platforms form a central pillar of the firewall. Rubika, with over 50 million users, combines messaging, social networking, and streaming video features, while Eitaa and Soroush Plus offer Telegram-like and video call services to tens of millions of users. Iran has also incorporated Bale, a domestic online banking platform with 16.5 million users, signaling the state’s intent to keep both communication and commerce within its controlled digital ecosystem.
Iran’s young and digitally savvy population, with more than 90 percent familiar with VPNs and anti-censorship tools, has historically pushed the state toward cautious openness. The government has periodically lifted restrictions on WhatsApp, Google Play, YouTube for academic use, and Instagram. Yet these temporary openings have frequently been met with intensified foreign influence operations.
In October 2025, Haaretz reported on an Israeli-funded campaign using deepfakes, bots, and social media manipulation to promote the claim of Reza Pahlavi as a legitimate alternative to the Iranian government. Meanwhile, US policy discussions, including reports cited by Axios, have considered “non-kinetic” measures such as cyberattacks and information operations to destabilize Tehran.
For Iranian authorities, these digital incursions are not abstract threats but overt attempts at political interference. By curating a self-contained internet ecosystem, the government seeks to maintain a level of autonomy over information, communications, and commerce, asserting that when adversaries openly declare plans to harm you, precaution is not merely prudent—it is essential.
