[58069] Aref appointed head of the Special Headquarters for Management and Organization of Cyberspace in Iran

Dramatic appointment in the Iranian administration: Mohammad Reza Aref to head the Headquarters for Cyberspace Management

In a significant move to strengthen government control over the online space, the President of Iran announced on May 13, 2026, the appointment of his First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, to the position of head of the "Special Headquarters for the Management and Organization of Cyberspace in the country." The appointment was made while he retains his original role as Vice President.

According to the report by فناوری فوری📡, the move comes from an "urgent need to establish unified, coherent, and efficient governance" in the Iranian digital space. This is a step aimed at increasing the centralized regime oversight of content and activity on the network.

According to a report by آخرین خبر, the President set three central goals for Aref in his new role:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive roadmap for a structural change in the management of cyberspace.


• Reorganizing decision-making mechanisms, with an emphasis on improving the efficiency of the secretariat of the Supreme Council and the National Center for Cyberspace.


• Establishing a strategic monitoring system and constant oversight of the performance of the various offices and bodies in this field.

This appointment highlights the growing importance that the Iranian government places on regulating digital activity under the close supervision of the highest echelons, in order to prevent foreign influence and create uniformity in network management in the country.