Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi categorically refuted fake news in a section of the news media on government’s plans to shutdown Internet in the wake of the FIFA World Cup 2026 next week.
In a post on X social platform on
Sunday, he also stressed that Internet access is a universal right which the
Government of President Masoud Pezeshkian has always been upholding.
“I have repeatedly emphasized
that the Internet is a universal right and the government's attention has
always been focused on trying to ensure its continuous connection.”
Hashemi added: “Unfortunately, in
the days when my colleagues in the great family of the ICT Ministry have used
all their strength to provide quality service to the honorable people and
maintain the stability of the communications network, and in this way have also
presented the country with a dear martyr, some people are still pursuing their
sinister goals by creating fake news and creating a market.”
The Minister was referring to the
damages inflicted on Iran’s civilian ICT infrastructure during the Israeli-US
military aggressions in 2025 and in 2026, and rumors that the Internet blackout
will be reimposed in the wake of escalation of military conflict.
“I deem it necessary to emphasize
that the news that was recently published suggesting the Internet shutdown
after the World Cup by a judicial order lacks any evidence,” Hashemi
reiterated.