Blinken Says US Seeks Ways to Facilitate Internet Access for Iranian People
Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, said on Tuesday that the Biden administration is definitely pursuing ways to facilitate people’s access to technology services in Iran.
The remarks by this U.S. official came at a time when Iran is witnessing widespread protests against the Islamic Republic government, and Iranian authorities are using internet service disruptions as a measure to counter the protests.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department has issued a general license that allows companies to provide internet services to Iranians without fear of sanctions.
Anthony Blinken noted in a press conference that this new general license “allows companies to provide services such as Claude, privacy-preserving technology, security technology, hardware and software to Iranians so they can more easily communicate with themselves and other parts of the world.”
He then said: “Companies can independently contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control to ensure whether this license covers their technology as well or not.”
However, certain obstacles remain, as some technology services require hardware. Mr. Blinken did not say in this press conference whether the United States would cooperate with companies to export this hardware to Iran.
One day before this, Ned Price, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, had said it is up to private companies to take “appropriate measures” for Iranians’ internet access. However, he did not clarify whether the new license would bring about a noticeable change in this regard.
He stated that the Treasury Department, by issuing the general license, has taken necessary measures and is allowing more companies to provide software and hardware services to the Iranian people.
Anthony Blinken, continuing his remarks on Tuesday, also said that the Biden administration, in addition to issuing the general license, has imposed sanctions against Iran’s Morality Police for their actions in violating women’s rights and the right to peaceful protest.
Referring to Mahsa Amini’s death in Guidance Patrol detention, he said: “Mahsa should be alive today. The only reason she is not alive now is that a cruel regime took her life because of a decision she made about what to wear.”
Mr. Blinken added: “Iranian women have the right to wear what they want. They have the right to be free from violence. They have the right to be free from harassment and abuse. This is true for Iran and should be true everywhere.”
Source: Radio Farda
