₦airaland Forum

US government blocks Iran-affiliated news websites

Published 1 hour ago

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F547/production/_119019726_websiteseized.jpg


The US has taken down dozens of Iranian news websites, which it has accused of spreading disinformation.

Many sites were offline on Tuesday, with notices explaining they have been "seized" by the US - alongside seals of the FBI and Department of Commerce.

They include Iran's state-owned Press TV and al-Masirah TV, run by the Iranian-backed Houthi movement.

It comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran over reinitialising a nuclear deal.

The US Department of Justice said the US had seized 33 websites run by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and another three run by Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, Reuters news agency reported .

The websites were not accessible on Tuesday afternoon, with the statement on Al-Alam's website reading: "The domain alalamtv.net has been seized by the United States Government in accordance with a seizure warrant... as part of a law enforcement action by the Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Notices also appeared on some of Iran's Press TV websites, the Iranian government's main English-language satellite television channel, and Al Alam, its Arabic-language equivalent. Lualua TV, an Arabic-language Bahraini independent channel that broadcasts from the UK, was also taken down.

Iran provides support to Yemen's Houthi rebel movement, who confirmed that its domain at almasirah.net had been blocked.

Several of the sites were back online within hours with new domain addresses.


The latest move comes days after hard-line anti-Western cleric Ebrahim Raisi, was elected president of the Islamic Republic.

Relations between Iran and the US have been strained for some years, after former US President Donald Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, and reinstated crippling economic sanctions on Iran. Under the landmark deal, those sanctions are lifted as long as Iran restricts its nuclear activities.

Even though current US President Joe Biden wants to rejoin the deal, both sides say the other must make the first move, and the deal is close to collapsing.

On Sunday, the sixth round of talks on the deal were held in Vienna between envoys for Iran and the six world signatories - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - but the negotiations were adjourned.

All of the Iran's news stations are government run, with no private television or radio stations. Satellite dishes are also illegal - although they are commonly seen. In the past, Iranian police have resorted to using cherry pickers to scour balconies for them, and crushing confiscated satellite dishes with tanks as a show of force.

In October, the US seized 92 websites it said were being used by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) to spread political disinformation.

The Iranian government has made no official comment in response to the move, but media outlets in the country have accused the US of censorship.

"Is this another example of US freedom of the press where if DC doesn't like what u say, ur domain is seized? (sic)," tweeted American-born Press TV host Marzieh Hashemi.

LASG ISSUES CONTRAVENTION NOTICES TO RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN LEKKI

… Gives Three Days Ultimatum For Removal Of Illegal Structures

No fewer than 45 residential and commercial buildings on Omorinre Johnson Street and Hunponu Wusu Road, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki, were on Sunday sealed by the officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, for illegal extension of development to canal setbacks along the axis.

The issuance of contravention notices was carried out by a team comprising of the enforcement and demolition gangs of LASBCA and officials of the Nigeria Police Force, which was led by LASBCA General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki.

Speaking during the exercise, the General Manager said the buildings were sealed for contravening the physical planning regulations of the State, noting that the violators have the grace period of three days to remove all illegal construction .

He said, “Most of the building setbacks on the axis have interlocking tiles erected across canals, which is against the physical planning regulations of Lagos State. The owners of these structures are supposed to build according to the building plan approvals given to them. There are adequate setbacks that they should leave but unfortunately, the setbacks have been encroached upon”.

"This is a basic fact and everyone knows that the setbacks are no go area for any form of construction. This is why we are here today. At the expiration of three days ultimatum, if these illegal encroachments are not removed, the State Government will take necessary actions against the owners of these structures”, he added.
Oki explained that the setback areas with interlocking tiles should be a green area, stressing that the enforcement was in furtherance of the government’s efforts at regulating physical planning development in the State.

Emphasising that Greenland setbacks were specifically reserved to help preserve the ecosystem in the State, Arc. Oki noted that it was also part of the ways to achieve the development plans in Lagos and make the environment organised and livable.

He implored owners of the marked buildings to immediately remove the interlocking tiles in the setback areas and replace them with green grass, adding that failure to do so, would attract necessary sanctions according to the laws of the State.

“We deliberately came for this exercise today, being a Sunday, because we believe we would meet most of the occupants of the affected buildings. We do not want a situation whereby the residents of these buildings will say they were not aware of this enforcement drive and use that as an excuse not to adhere to government laws” , the General Manager stated.

He said the enforcement exercise would continue on buildings without planning permits or are not in conformity with construction regulations, maintaining that the exercise was also to intensify efforts to rid Lagos of illegal and unapproved building construction.

Oki, therefore, appealed to Lagosians to follow proper procedure in building construction and obtain planning permits from the State government.

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu today handed over the Newly Procured Seven High capacity passenger boats and Launch of Cowry Card for Water Transportation at the Five Cowries Ferry Terminal, Falomo Ikoyi Lagos. Mr Governor was ably represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

The 7 new boats namely:

- MF Elegushi (30 passengers)
- MF Apapa (30 passengers)
- MF Onigando (30 passengers)
- MF Majidun (30 passengers)
- MF Zangbeto (50 Passengers)
- MF Eko Akete (50 passengers)
- MF Ehingbeti (Utility boat)

The 7 seven new boats were all built by Nigerian boat builders as promised by Mr Governor to support Local content: Sierra Craft Limited, V-craft limited and Niger Benue Transport Company (NBTC), who has indicated a strong interest to establish their boat factory in Epe, Lagos.

The Administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is currently building and renovating 15 new jetties across the coastal lines of the State to open up more routes, LAGFERRY will be deploying some of these new boats to the new routes of Epe, Badagry, Agbowa-Ikosi, Unilag Community and Agbara-Ijanikin.

In line with Mr Governor’s THEMES Agenda, The first ‘T’ which stands for Traffic Management and Transportation, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to strengthen the Water Transportation system in Lagos State.

LZAA:
Nice writeup naptu2 but you missed a key point
Siasia was banned because of the fixing that took place in Beijing in the 2008 Olympics not even the Australia job
Try and read kelong kings and get the gist
Happy he got his ban reduced because a life ban was way too harsh

nduchucks:
My post was not meant to point accusatory fingers at anyone. No vex, if you perceived it as such.

I do believe that fixing matches Nigerian matches is no worse that fixing foreign matches.

nduchucks:
If Siasia did nothing wrong his ban would have been dismissed outright by arbitrators.

Please spare us. Let's not be apologists for wrongdoers.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has just announced his complete support and endorsement for me to become President of Nigeria in 2023, at the inauguration of Igbonine sociocultural organization happening live now in Enugu. Thank you my Distinguished brother Enyi!

jaymichael:
Not on the topic though. Are you a teacher? Do you teach in the university? Your write-ups are always factual, presented in very clear and lucid format, neatly presented. You are very knowledgeable and patriotic. I will like to meet you someday (I know I will) I have a small gift of a fountain pen (though inexpensive) that I cherish for you.
I doff my cap for you sir.