TEHRAN, Iran — Two years into the term of moderate President Hassan Rouhani, controversy and speculation continue over whether the administration will succeed in addressing the jamming of satellite signals.

On Aug. 16, the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency reported that MP Mohammad Hassan Asafari had submitted an inquiry to parliament about the health hazards posed by the jamming of satellite signals and the Health Ministry’s lack of attention to this matter. His move resulted in parliament summoning Minister of Health Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi. 

Hashemi appeared in parliament 10 days later. The question and answer session was comprehensively covered by official media outlets. Yet there was no trace of an actual response to questions regarding the jamming of signals. Hashemi’s silence once again raised doubt about just how determined the Rouhani administration is about confronting those behind the jamming. This is particularly the case since government officials have over the past two years said they will pursue the matter.

The Islamic Republic began to intensify jamming in June 2009, as widespread street protests erupted following a disputed presidential vote. Foreign-based TV channels, such as the BBC's Persian Service and Voice of America's Persian News Network, which were targeting Iranian viewers to provide full coverage of the inflamed political atmosphere in Iran, were extensively jammed.