Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is criticizing the blocking of the popular Telegram messaging app in the Islamic Republic, suggesting those "at the highest level" in the country shut off access. Authorities temporarily blocked the app to calm the demonstrations, but Iran's judiciary on Monday ordered internet service providers to block access to the app. In a post on photo-sharing app Instagram, which isn't blocked in Iran, Rouhani wrote: "No social network or messenger were blocked 'by this government' and won't be blocked." Telegram allows users to send text messages, pictures and video over the internet. The head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said last month Telegram would be blocked.

Source: ABC News May 05, 2018 06:04 UTC