Iran Blocks Tehran Restaurant Instagram Over Netanyahu, Soleimani Wordplay

Iranian authorities have blocked the Instagram account of a Tehran restaurant named "Destpukht-e Bibi" (Bibi's Cooking) after it posted a story featuring a pun that alluded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a slain Iranian commander. The post included the phrase "There's nothing like Bibi's cutlet," accompanied by a song by Iranian singer Moein. The restaurant's account was subsequently shut down by judicial order, with authorities citing "criminal content" as the reason.

The phrase, while seemingly referring to a dish, carries political undertones in Iran. "Bibi" is a common Persian term, but it is also the widely recognized nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu. In recent years, "Bibi" has been used in anti-regime memes and in posts supporting Israeli actions against the Islamic Republic.

The word "cutlet" (Kotlet) gained political significance following the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Regime opponents began using "cutlet" derisively in reference to Soleimani, mocking his remains after the attack. The term later expanded on social media to refer to other senior regime officials killed in military strikes.

The combination of "Bibi's cutlet" could be interpreted as a veiled reference to Netanyahu and Iranian officials killed in Israeli strikes, although the restaurant itself did not issue an explicit political statement. The post was seen as potentially referencing Soleimani and other Iranian figures targeted in attacks attributed to Israel.