The campaign, led by Iran's Islamist president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attempts to free the country of western cultural influences, via the Internet. Video sharing site YouTube, Web encyclopedia Wikipedia, and The New York Times are among the major websites blocked by Iran.

In addition, high-speed (above 128 kilobits per sec) Internet connections have been banned as well as Internet based SMS. Internet texting has been blocked in an effort to prevent the defamation of candidates in the upcoming elections.

Iran has about 7.5 million Internet surfers which is the highest number of web users in the Middle East after Israel. The country also has more than 100,000 bloggers, some of which are substitutes for Iran's suppressed, reformist press.

Iran is on Reporters Without Borders' list of the 13 enemies of the Internet. The Government has objected to their inclusion and says they only filter illegal or immoral content. Reporters Without Borders has expressed deep concern for the future of the Internet in Iran where censorship is now the rule rather than the exception.

Iran Blocks Internet-Based SMS to Prevent Smear Campaign in Election
Iran Steps up Censorship of Foreign Content
RSF's 13 Enemies of the Internet