This archive report was first published on 23 June 2021.
On June 22, 2021, the US government seized 33 Iranian news websites, accusing them of spreading disinformation.
The move comes amid heated tensions between the US and Iran, particularly after the election of Ebrahim Raisi as Iran's new president.
Raisi, who was sanctioned by the US in 2019 for his role in the execution of political prisoners in 1988, has been blacklisted by the US.
According to the US Department of Justice, the seized websites were run by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and included three websites run by Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
The websites displayed a notice stating that they had been seized by the US, with the seals of the FBI and the Department of Commerce.
Iran's state-owned Press TV and al-Masirah TV, which is backed by the Iranian Houthi movement, were also affected by the seizure.
Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi has dismissed meetings with US President Joe Biden, saying 'No' when asked if he would meet Biden if the US lifted sanctions on Iran.
This is not the first time the US has closed down Iranian websites, with 92 websites being shut down in October 2020 for spreading political disinformation.
The tension between the US and Iran is expected to increase as President-elect Raisi is seen to be an extremist.
