The US government has blocked dozens of US website domains connected to Iran.
What is the rationale?
The move is linked to what the US says are disinformation efforts.
It has accused the sites, including Iran’s state-owned Press TV, of spreading disinformation.
In the past, the U.S. had cracked down on Chinese and Iranian media over similar allegations.
The move comes days after Iran elected Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric, as President.
Mr. Raisi has been sanctioned by the U.S. for his alleged role in the execution of political prisoners and other rights violations.
His election as the President has already escalated tensions between the two countries.
The U.S. wants Iran to return to the terms of the original Iran-U.S. nuclear deal.
It also wants to discuss Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its regional activities.
Mr. Raisi, known for his hardline domestic and foreign policy views, has rejected such demands outright.
Is the US move justified?
Iran responded that the U.S. was trying to “muzzle free speech”.
The U.S.’s move hardly serves its declared purpose of fighting disinformation.
E.g. America seized the website of the semi-official Iranian news agency, Fars, in 2018.
But it switched to an Iranian domain and was back online.
The decision would also aid the Iranian narrative that America remains hostile.
The U.S. decision could also create hitches in the diplomatic process under way.
Notably, both countries are trying to revive the nuclear deal.
So, the move by the U.S. now seems like an unnecessary provocation.
What is the way forward?
The way to fight disinformation campaigns is to promote information and strengthen independent journalism.
Mr. Raisi would take over the presidency in early August 2021 (nearly a month to go).
So, Mr. Biden’s best chance to revive the nuclear deal is to do it before then.
Both sides should focus on the diplomatic path.
This should aim at achieving a pragmatic agreement first that addresses the most critical issues such as Iran’s expanding nuclear programme and America’s sprawling sanctions regime.
