Virtual US embassy in Iran is blocked

[December 07, 2011]  TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Residents of Tehran say that a web-based U.S. "embassy" to Iran has been blocked by the authorities, less than a day after it went online.

The English- and Farsi-language website, designed by Washington as a virtual diplomatic mission, had been briefly available to Internet users in Tehran after its Tuesday debut. It could not be accessed on Wednesday.

Iranian Internet users trying to view the site say they were greeted by a message stating that their browser could not display it, or by a page provided by Iranian authorities that suggested links to local websites instead.

Numerous websites, including international media and social networking sites, are unavailable in Iran.

Calls to Iranian officials for comment were not immediately returned.

[Associated Press; By NASSER KARIMI]

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