Reformist journalist Mostafa Faghihi said the app has helped to open up "multilateral dialogue" in Iran. Such public discourse has been elusive in the country due to the conduct of "media giants with public budgets... that have turned into one-sided and factional tribunes". Top draw cards Alongside Instagram, Clubhouse is one of the few major social media applications still largely accessible in Iran without the requirement for virtual private network (VPN) software to circumvent censorship. Eshaq Jahangiri, first vice president to Rouhani and considered a potential candidate, has been one of the highest-ranking officials to appear on the platform. Taking questions, he strongly defended the administration's track record in the face of a US "economic war", saying it stood up for internet freedoms, and denied links to one of his brothers on trial for alleged corruption.