Overview
- A new location feature on X showed some Iranian politicians, journalists and activists appearing inside Iran despite the platform’s official ban.
- The government acknowledged a two-tier system, and President Masoud Pezeshkian said he ordered the special 'white SIM' accounts disabled.
- MP Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani said all lawmakers browse without restrictions and alleged some benefit financially by keeping filters in place through VPN sales.
- Most users face sweeping blocks on major apps and websites and depend on VPNs that are often slow and unreliable, though WhatsApp has been restored.
- Final decisions on access and filtering rest with security agencies, which constrain the president’s ability to deliver broader changes.