US seizes 36 Iran-linked websites, including state-run Press TV
- Message appeared on websites claiming they were ‘Seized by the United States Government’
- Move likely to inflame tensions ahead of nuclear talks in Vienna expected to resume next month
The US Justice Department seized 36 Iranian-linked websites, many of them associated with either disinformation activities or violent organisations, taking them offline for violating US sanctions.
Several of the sites were back online within hours on Tuesday with new domain addresses.
Tehran warned that the US seizures was “not constructive” for ongoing talks to revive a landmark nuclear deal.
“We are using all international and legal means to... condemn... this mistaken policy of the United States,” the director of the president’s office, Mahmoud Vaezi, said.
“It appears not constructive when talks for a deal on the nuclear issue are under way.”
Washington acted as world powers seek to the revive 2015 nuclear deal that could see Iran return to global oil markets in exchange for curtailing contentious nuclear work.