Iran’s recent decision to once again block Waze, a mobile navigation app developed in Israel, has created a great deal of controversy in the country. The GPS-based software had become popular both among the public as well as Iran’s leading ride-hailing apps, Snapp and Tap30.
Snapp (founded in 2014) and Tap30 (founded in 2016) — known as the Ubers of Iran — have faced many challenges since their entry into the country’s transportation scene. Both services were warmly welcomed by the public, especially in Tehran, due to their fast and quality service. While the more traditional taxi services and drivers were not too happy and tried to sabotage the companies, both Snapp and Tap30 have managed to continue operating.