Iran TV Urges Citizens to Delete WhatsApp, Fueling Fears of Nationwide Ban

WhatsApp has voiced concern that Iranian authorities may block its services after the country’s state-run broadcaster accused the messaging platform of acting as a surveillance tool for Israel.

On Tuesday, Iran’s national broadcaster, IRIB, urged citizens to uninstall WhatsApp, claiming without evidence that the app collects sensitive user data like location and messages, and shares them with Israel.

This warning came amid escalating tensions, as Israel and Iran traded fire for a sixth straight day, with reports of Israeli strikes on a nuclear site near Tehran.

In response, a WhatsApp spokesperson refuted the claims, stating that the platform’s messages are end-to-end encrypted meaning only the sender and receiver can access them. “We do not track precise locations, store messaging logs, or share bulk data with any government,” the spokesperson told AFP. “These false accusations could be used to justify cutting off access at a time when secure communication is crucial.”

The war has already pushed Iran to impose temporary internet restrictions. Authorities have blocked access to several sites and platforms, a tactic reminiscent of the post-Mahsa Amini protests in 2022, when WhatsApp was previously banned.

In a sweeping move to secure internal communications, Iranian civil servants and their security teams have been ordered to stop using all connected devices including smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches during the Israeli aerial campaign.

As hostilities intensify, with Tehran firing hypersonic missiles and Israel continuing targeted bombings, the digital front has become just as contested as the physical one.