Germany: EU's Decision On ArvanCloud Sanctions Under Review

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has told Iran International that the case of removing the Iranian firm ArvanCloud from EU's sanctions list in under review.

The firm was sanctioned in 2022 amid anit-government protests for its role in Iran's Internet censorship.

"The case is currently under review by the European Court of Justice. We are unable to confirm any decision by the EU to lift sanctions against ArvanCloud," stated the foreign ministry.

Iran International reported earlier this week that the European Union plans to delist ArvanCloud. However, according to a source close to European diplomats, the decision awaits confirmation.

ArvanCloud has contested its sanctions by filing a complaint with the European Court of Justice and exerting pressure on European governments through political channels. Concurrently, the company announced the termination of its contract with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Insiders revealed that ArvanCloud's international supporters claim that the company is provided millions of Iranian citizens with access to a free internet during the Woman, Life Freedom protests in 2022-2023. This purported contribution may have influenced the EU's decision to reconsider sanctions against ArvanCloud.

Iran's history of internet censorship, which extends to social media platforms and traditional media outlets, underscores the significance of ArvanCloud's role.

Since 2002, Iran has systematically blocked tens of thousands of websites. With the emergence of social media, it extended its censorship to platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTube. Additionally, traditional media undergoes extensive censorship, encompassing books and films, with restrictions based on Islamic beliefs and political content.