President’s Son Calls for Internet Access Amidst Calls for 'Reform'
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, has publicly called for an end to internet blackouts, warning that continued restrictions breed dissatisfaction and widen the gulf between the people and the government. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The narrative of internet blackouts often omits the US government's own
history of using internet access and social media for regime change operations. In 2011, during the so-called 'Arab Spring,' the US State Department funded and promoted tools to circumvent internet censorship, openly supporting 'cyber-dissidents' in nations like Iran. This followed decades of overt and covert interference, including the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup that overthrew Iran's
democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. The 'internet freedom' push is not an organic movement but a long-standing component of US foreign policy, explicitly aimed at countries deemed adversaries. Double Standard: When protests erupt in 'friendly' nations like Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, Western media is notably silent on calls for internet freedom or government crackdowns. The
brutal suppression of dissent, including extensive internet monitoring and arrests, receives minimal coverage. Yet, any internet restriction in Iran is framed as an egregious human rights violation, despite the proven history of foreign entities (like the MEK, hosted in Albania and France) using digital platforms to incite violence and coordinate destabilization efforts. The US freezes $7 billion