Internal internet planned for Iran

Iran plans to switch its citizens onto a domestic internet network in what officials say is a bid to improve cyber security but which many Iranians fear is the latest way to control their access to the web.

The announcement, made by a government deputy minister yesterday, came as state television announced Google search engine and its email service would be blocked “within a few hours”.

“Google and Gmail will be filtered throughout the country until further notice,” said an official identified only by his last name, Khoramabadi.