WORLD
Britain accused Iran on Sunday of blocking a website days after it was launched by the British government to reach out to Iranians.
Britain accused Iran on Sunday of blocking a website days after it was launched by the British government to reach out to Iranians, in the latest spat over media censorship. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the "UK for Iranians" website which he launched on Wednesday with a personal video message had been blocked three days later by Tehran.
"I condemn this action by the Iranian government. We have no quarrel with the Iranian people and regret that the Iranian authorities fear their own citizens' interaction and involvement with the outside world," Hague said in a statement.
Britain is at the forefront of Western opposition to Iran's nuclear programme, supporting tough sanctions against Tehran which it fears is seeking the bomb.
Tehran says its atomic activities are entirely peaceful. Relations hit new lows last November when protesters stormed the British embassy, prompting London to evacuate its Tehran staff and expel all Iranian diplomats from Britain. Iran said that was an over-reaction and accused London of censorship when its state-run English language news channel Press TV was banned from British airwaves by media regulator Ofcom in January.
Britain's public service broadcaster, the BBC, said on Wednesday it had suffered a sophisticated cyber-attack following a campaign by Iranian authorities against its Persian service. Hague said the website (http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en in English and http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/fa in Farsi) and the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter were an attempt to engage with Iranians and explain British policy.
Iran blocked a similar website set up by the US State Department as a "virtual embassy" hours after its launch in December. Washington has had no diplomatic presence in Tehran since its embassy was stormed in 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution and has led the global push to isolate Iran. "Iran's people have had to endure an ever-tightening stranglehold of censorship," Hague said.
"The blocking of our website is only a very small part of what Iranians undergo daily: millions of websites blocked, access to e-mail services denied, international television channels jammed, films and theatre productions closed down, books unpublished, traditional Persian literature rewritten and newspapers banned."
Many Iranians get around a government filter that blocks vast numbers of Western news and social media sites - including Facebook and Twitter - by using virtual private network, or VPN, software.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope spots Jupiter's great Red Spot shaking like...
'It was my...': Javed Akhtar REVEALS reason behind his failed first marriage with Honey Irani
Dawood Ibrahim is scared of me, says Bigg Boss 18 contestant Gunratan Sadavarte
Who is Zarin Daruwala, Standard Chartered's India CEO set to retire in April 2025?
Madhura Naik recalls family's encounter with Hamas militants, says 'it was...’
Big setback for India as Rohit Sharma may miss first Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia
DSP to IPS officer: Meet woman who cracked UPSC exam in first attempt, her AIR was...
'I would feel like jumping off...': When Mrunal Thakur revealed she had suicidal thoughts due to...
Bigg Boss 18: These five contestants are nominated for eviction in first week of Salman Khan's show
Rohit Sharma meets injured Musheer Khan after accident, pic goes viral
Women's T20 World Cup 2024: How can India qualify for semifinals after 82-run win over Sri Lanka?
When Ratan Tata kneeled down with MBA graduates to pose for photo; see viral pic
Joe Root scripts history in Multan Test, joins Virat Kohli in THIS elite list
Ratan Tata did THIS work in 20 days, but govt took years to do it
PAK vs ENG: Harry Brook breaks Virender Sehwag's 20-year-old record with triple century vs Pakistan
When I Told World Icon Ratan Tata ‘You Are the Real James Bond of the Business Community’: Jay Patel
Good news! UP govt declares public holiday on THIS day; check details
How Ratan Tata's dog 'Goa' got his name, know story behind it
Nobel Prize 2024 in Literature awarded to Han Kang: Who is she?
PAK vs ENG: Joe Root equals Sachin Tendulkar's record with heroics in Multan Test
Daily Habits to Rejuvenate Your Eye Contour
WATCH: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani and family pay homage to Ratan Tata at NCPA
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces retirement, ends illustrious career with 22 Grand Slam titles
Virat Kohli's old video singing 'sajna ve sajna' with Harbhajan Singh goes viral again, watch video
Bitcoin creator's true identity exposed in an HBO documentary, he is…
Ratan Tata's influence continues as Tata Group shares including Tata Power, Tata Steel rise
'His loss will be...': Bill Gates shares photo with Ratan Tata, calls him 'visionary leader'
IND vs BAN: Riyan Parag bowls with bizarre action, ends up bowling rare no-ball, watch viral video
ZEE proposes biographical film on Ratan Tata's life as humble tribute to his legacy
Will Samajwadi Party's alliance with Congress continue? SP chief Akhilesh Yadav breaks his silence
From 'Ugly Duckling' to 'White Swan': Kabir Bedi traces Rekha's remarkable journey as she turns 70
Ratan Tata didn’t recognise Amitabh Bachchan while traveling together, superstar then...
An untold story: Here's how Ratan Tata extended unwavering support to victims of 26/11 attack
Another masterstroke by Gautam Adani, plans to raise more than Rs 1,67,92,60,00,000 through…
Beyond Cash and Cards: Rise of AI-Powered Payment
Meet woman, Tata Son's first female director who shaped Ratan Tata's personality, for whom he left…
Hunter's Moon October 2024: When, where to watch biggest supermoon of the year
7th Pay Commission: Good news for central govt employees, 3% DA hike likely to be announced on...
'Would sit and...': When Shah Rukh Khan made Mahima Chaudhary wait for 20 days on sets of Pardes
An untold story: Here's how Ratan Tata took 'revenge' on Ford after his humiliation by...
'Nuclear Submarines, Predator Drones': India clears mega deal worth Rs 80000 crore with US
Meet woman, who cleared UPSC exam without coaching, now a popular IPS officer, her AIR was…
Meet man, who worked in India's largest govt bank, later cracked NEET exam at age of 46, he is…
This hospital in India is among top 10 best hospitals, owned by Anil Ambani, its CEO is...
Who is Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half-brother? What does he do?
Ratan Tata Death: What happened to Him?
Meet Ratan Tata's likely heirs, the next generation of Tata Group
Why did Ratan Tata never marry? Legendary industrialist once revealed...
Ratan Tata Death: What was the religion of Tata Sons chairman emeritus?
Ratan Tata death: Did Tata Group chairman emeritus have kids? Check here
Ratan Tata death news: Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus and veteran industrialist dies at 86
Devara box office collection day 13: Jr NTR, Janhvi Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan film sinks further
DNA TV Show: AAP vs Centre over Delhi CM's residence forcibly vacated claim
Meet IPS officer who got new posting even after announcing his resignation, he is from...