Around 12 hours after going dark in the United States, TikTok was back to run again Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump vowed earlier the day to postpone the ban from taking effect.
In a statement posted on X Saturday night, the short video-sharing app announced that it had reached an agreement with its internet service providers and was "in the process of restoring service". Both the app and website are now working again.
TikTok thanked Trump for providing "necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive".
The company also said that it would work with Trump to find a long-term solution that would ensure the app's normal operation in the United States.
Earlier on Saturday, hours before a federal ban was set to take effect, TikTok temporarily shut down its U.S. services. Several other apps under is China-based parent company, ByteDance, also went off-line in the United States around the same time. American companies including Apple, Google, and Oracle, which support the functioning of TikTok in the U.S., also ceased their related services.
On Sunday morning, Trump posted on social media "asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!" He further pledged to issue an executive order after swearing in on Monday to delay implementation of the ban-or-sale law, "so that we can make a deal to protect our national security".
In April 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by both chambers of Congress, urging ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company within 270 days. Otherwise, the app would be banned in the U.S. after January 19, 2025, or Sunday.
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal law that would ban TikTok starting Sunday unless it is sold. Following that ruling, the Biden administration indicated that enforcement responsibilities would shift to the incoming Trump administration, which will take office on Monday.
TikTok restores service for American users following Trump's pledge
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he estimates a deal with Iran will be signed "in the next day or two."
Trump said in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 News that the United States and Iran will probably meet over the weekend to finalize a deal to end the war. "The Iranians want to meet and make a deal," he said.
He said "the naval blockade on Iran is helping to make a deal. I will not lift it until we make a deal," adding that "the biggest part of this deal is that it will make Israel safer. This deal is good for Israel."
According to the channel, one component of the deal under discussion is that the United States will release 20 billion U.S. dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
In exchange, Iran would give up its stockpile of enriched uranium, and would be only allowed to have nuclear research reactors to produce medical isotopes, all above ground.
Trump also stressed that Israel must stop the strikes on Lebanon, saying, "They can't keep blowing up buildings. I'm not going to allow that."
Also on Friday, Trump said in a phone interview with Bloomberg that a deal to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is mostly complete as talks over a lasting peace deal will "probably" be held this weekend in Pakistan.
Trump said in the phone interview that Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and will not receive any frozen funds from the United States.
"Most of the main points are finalized. It'll go pretty quickly," Trump said.
Asked if he would travel to Pakistan to sign the potential deal, Trump said: "I may."
Trump again denied that the moratorium on Iran's nuclear program would expire after 20 years. "No years, unlimited," Trump said.
The United States will get all of Iran's nuclear "dust" with no money having exchanged hands "in any way, shape, or form," Trump wrote on social media earlier on Friday. Multiple Western media outlets have interpreted Trump's reference to nuclear "dust" as meaning Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
Iran has yet to comment on any deal beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nor on claims made by Trump that Tehran had offered concessions, including over the key issue of its nuclear program.
If the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will consider it a violation of the ceasefire between the two countries and will close the waterway, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Friday, citing an informed source close to the Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian side has yet to respond to the media report on the enriched uranium issue.
The United States and Iran had their first round of negotiations in Pakistan's Islamabad last weekend to ease tension in the Middle East. The talks, which failed to produce an agreement, took place after a ceasefire was announced on April 8 between Iran, the United States, and Israel, following 40 days of fighting.
Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade on the strait following the failed negotiations in Islamabad.
Earlier on Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the waterway again if the U.S. blockade continues.
Trump says may sign deal with Iran "in the next day or two": Israeli media
Trump claims peace deal with Iran mostly complete: report
