Iran blocks access to Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, other webmail services

The Iranian government appears to have blocked access to Google's search engine and Gmail webmail service from inside Iran;
Access to Google’s search page was also restricted to its unsecured version, web users in Iran found. Attempts to access it using a secure protocol were also blocked, SAPA and Agence France Presse reported.

The curbs were announced in a cellphone text message quoting Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, an adviser to Iran’s public prosecutor’s office and the secretary of an official group tasked with detecting Internet content deemed illegal.

“Due to the repeated demands of the people, Google and Gmail will be filtered nationwide. They will remain filtered until further notice,” the message read.

Google’s own website tracking country-by-country access to its services did not immediately reflect the blocks.

But several residents in Tehran told AFP they were unable to get into their Gmail accounts unless they used VPN (virtual private network) software.