Is Clubhouse promoting democracy in Iran?

Audio-chat app is being touted by some as a beacon of democracy and freedom of expression. It’s not that simple.

Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made headlines last week when he made a late-night appearance in Clubhouse, the increasingly popular group audio-chat mobile app. Even though hours into the conversation he said it was past his bedtime, the country’s top diplomat stayed longer to discuss issues that ranged from Iran’s recent controversial 25-year cooperation accord with China, to its nuclear deal with world powers, to again denying he has aspirations to become president, to his bedtime routine. The virtual room he was speaking in quickly reached 8,000 participants – the maximum number allowed at the moment – and comprised several other officials, journalists, and Iranians living inside and outside the country.