US Telling A Big Lie, Iran’s Sanctioned Minister Says

In an interview with ICANA, Azari Jahromi slammed as a “big lie” the US justification for blacklisting him in connection with human rights and freedom of information.

Azari Jahromi reiterated that neither he nor the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has had a role in the Internet blackout or its reconnection in Iran amid the recent unrest, saying it reveals the US’ lie in this regard.

The US claims to be advocating ICT development in Iran and the people’s access to information, but it must explain why Iranian cancer patients cannot receive medications or why Iranian start-ups, businesses and programmers have been deprived of the facilities in the technology sector.

On Friday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin accused Azari Jahromi of advancing Tehran’s policy of “internet censorship” while in office.

 “We are sanctioning Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for restricting internet access, including to popular messaging applications that help tens of millions of Iranians stay connected to each other and the outside world,” he said.

The Supreme National Security Council of Iran implemented a partial shutdown of internet services in Iran for a week after the outbreak of protests that turned violent in a number of cities.

The protests were held after a hike in the price of subsidized gasoline in the country.

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