Iran’s authoritarian regime has intensified its repression of free internet access by deepening cyber ties with Russia. A recent agreement between the two heavily sanctioned nations focuses on increasing control over the digital space and suppressing independent online activity.
The agreement, signed last Friday in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to enhance cooperation in cybersecurity and internet regulation. The pact, described as elevating “friendly interstate relations” to a new level, underscores the shared goal of both regimes to curb free access to information and monitor online activity.
Control and Censorship in Cyberspace
A significant aspect of the deal involves collaboration on managing national internet infrastructure, effectively isolating domestic users from the global digital space. This mirrors longstanding efforts in both countries to enforce internet censorship, disinformation campaigns, and surveillance. According to the human rights advocacy group Freedom House, the internet in both Iran and Russia is classified as “not free” due to rampant censorship and repression.
Iran has taken aggressive measures to restrict its citizens’ access to the global internet. Authorities have made it increasingly difficult and costly to access unrestricted online platforms, pushing users towards a controlled domestic version of the internet. This state-controlled network allows Iranian officials to monitor content and suppress dissenting voices effectively. The partnership with Russia—which has developed its “sovereign internet” infrastructure—provides Iran with technical expertise to enhance its digital repression.
A Strategic Alliance in Repression
The agreement also solidifies shared efforts to counter the so-called criminal use of information technologies, a pretext often used by authoritarian regimes to justify surveillance and crackdown on dissent. Iranian officials have lauded Russia’s support in bolstering Iran’s cybersecurity capabilities. Russian firms, including sanctioned companies like Positive Technologies, have reportedly analyzed Iran’s cyber landscape, providing tools and strategies to suppress online freedoms.
This partnership builds on prior agreements, such as the 2021 treaty between Iran and Russia, which focused on cybersecurity and mutual non-aggression in cyberspace. It also reflects ongoing collaboration, such as discussions between Russian and Iranian ministries and technology firms to export Russian tech solutions to Iran.
Implications for Iranian Citizens
For the Iranian people, this cyber partnership represents a deepening of the regime’s stranglehold on free expression and access to information. By leveraging Russian expertise, Tehran is likely to expand its capacity to surveil, censor, and punish online dissent, further isolating Iranians from the global community.
The European Parliament and human rights organizations have repeatedly called out Iran’s repressive tactics. However, this new alliance with Russia highlights the regime’s determination to double down on its control over cyberspace, using foreign partnerships to reinforce its digital authoritarianism.
Source » irannewsupdate