Iran clamps down on outside e-mails

Iran clamps down on outisde emails Iran says banks, insurance firms and telecommunications companies will be barred from working with customers who send e-mails from foreign e-mail addresses. Under a new regulation reported by Iranian newspaper Asr Ertebatat, individual e-mail addresses used within the country will have to end with iran.ir, post.ir, and chmail.ir.
Dutch-based Telecompaper said Monday the regulation effectively bans correspondence with individuals using Gmail, Hotmail or other foreign e-mail providers.
Asr Ertebatat said governmental organizations will only be allowed to use addresses ending in .ir or gov.ir, while universities must use addresses ending in .ir or ac.ir.
Iranian officials said the move was made in an effort to protect confidential information.
Earlier this year in March, Iran clamped down heavily on web users before parliamentary elections, with draconian rules on cybercafes and preparations to launch a national internet.
The state carried out tests for a countrywide network aimed at substituting services run through the World Wide Web. The move prompted fears among its online community that Iran intedned to withdraw from the global internet.
Police had also earlier this year, clamped down hard on internet cafe owners, giving them a two-week ultimatum to adopt rules requiring them to check the identity cards of their customers before providing services.
Users in Iran have complained of a significant reduction in internet speed.