Iran Puts WhatsApp Restrictions Amid Escalating Cyber War With Israel

Iran has reimposed sweeping digital restrictions just months after lifting bans on major platforms like WhatsApp, as cyber tensions with Israel reach new heights.

On June 17th, 2025 (Tuesday), Iranian state television urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, claiming—without providing evidence—that the app shares user data with Israel. This warning comes as Iran’s cybersecurity authority banned government officials and their security teams from using mobile phones, smart watches, and laptops connected to public networks. These moves suggest concerns that Israeli intelligence may be tracking Iranian officials through digital signatures on their devices.

This digital clampdown marks a sharp reversal from late 2024, when Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace unanimously voted to lift restrictions on WhatsApp and Google Play. President Masoud Pezeshkian then called it “the first step in removing internet limitations.” However, the latest measures leave Iran’s digital landscape more isolated than it has been in months, prioritizing national security over the broader internet freedoms many citizens had hoped to regain.

Broader Internet Controls and Cyber Conflict

In addition to the WhatsApp warning, Iran has restricted public internet access—landline phones cannot make international calls, and many international websites remain blocked. Reports indicate that Iran has activated its “halal net,” a domestically controlled internet system that further limits citizens’ access to global content.

These digital restrictions coincide with what Iranian media describes as a “massive cyber war” launched by Israel. Since Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, cyberattacks against Israeli targets have surged by 700 percent, according to cybersecurity firm Radware. Over 100 hacker groups are reportedly targeting Israeli infrastructure in retaliation.