WhatsApp says it is working to keep Iranians connected

Iran on Wednesday restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the country’s last remaining social networks

WhatsApp by Meta Platforms Inc. said on Thursday that it was trying to keep users in Iran connected after the country restricted access to the Instagram app and social media platform.

WhatsApp will “do everything” within its technical capabilities to make the service available and not block Iranian phone numbers, the messaging service said in a tweet.

Iran on Wednesday restricted access to Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the country’s last remaining social networks, amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, according to residents and internet watchdog NetBlocks.

Last week’s death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police in Tehran for “inappropriate clothing”, has sparked anger over issues such as freedom in the Islamic republic and an economy reeling from sanctions.

Protesters in Tehran and other Iranian cities set fire to police stations and vehicles earlier on Thursday as public outrage over the deaths showed no signs of abating and reports of an attack by security forces.