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The Iranian authorities have outlawed the native token of the app message Telegram on fears that could undermine attempts to revive the economy of the country, according to reports.
Managing or promoting Gram cryptocurrency, which is used by Telegram users for platform transactions, will now be a "criminal act", at a time of greater sensitivity from a state that is recovering from international sanctions led by the United States, Tehran Times reported.
Javad Javidnia, secretary of the Task Force for the definition of criminal content, was quoted by the newspaper because he suggested that the use of the Gram was "an action against national security". He reported, "Any collaboration with the Telegram messaging app to start Gram, the cryptocurrency messaging app, in Iran constitutes an action against national security and will be addressed as a rupture for the public. national economy ".
Elaborating the reasons for the ban, Javidnia said that the political "clamor" around Iran was a factor in the decision to outlaw Telegram transactions.
"One of the most important factors in banning Telegram was the sense of a serious economic threat from its activities, which was unfortunately marginalized and neglected due to the clamor in the country's political atmosphere," the official said.
The move comes at a time of intense economic malaise in Iran, following successive rounds of sanctions against the country, led by US president Donald Trump. This left Iran effectively excluded and unable to access traditional global payment systems, further exacerbating the problems with both import and export of goods.
It coincides with the development of a new relationship with the SWIFT network. Last year, the Central Bank of Iran was expelled from the global SWIFT network, following the reintroduction of US-led sanctions. This led, according to reports, in the country to intensify efforts to introduce a state-supported cryptocurrency, similar to the moves in Venezuela, which will be supported with Iranian rial.
In banning Telegram's cryptocurrency, Iran joins Russia in token marginalization.
