Washington: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said that he will activate the firm’s satellite internet service Starlink for free internet service in Iran. Musk’s reply came in response to a tweet by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It was said that America should take action to advance free internet and free flow of information for Iranians. Protests continue in Iran after the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department issued guidelines to increase the Internet services available to Iranians despite US sanctions on Iran.
According to a news agency Reuters news, a finance department official told reporters that our information about Starlink is that the service they provide will be of commercial grade. And it will be hardware that is not included in the general license. So for this, they have to write to the Treasury. Whereas a US State Department spokesman said that if SpaceX believes that the Iranians need a specific license for Internet service, it will be welcome and given priority. A State Department spokesman said that if SpaceX says that its activity is already authorized and that it has any questions, it is still welcome.
While the media could not reach Musk for comment or clarification regarding Starlink’s approval to work in Iran. It is worth noting that Mahsa Amini was arrested by the ethics police for not wearing a hijab. Who later died in police custody. Protests are taking place in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini. Elon Musk, however, said on Monday that his company wants to provide Starlink satellite broadband service to Iranians. Earlier, Musk started Starlink’s internet service in Ukraine when the Internet service there was disrupted after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
