National Council of Iranian Americans Urges Biden Administration to Help Iranians Access Secure Internet

The National Council of Iranian Americans (NIAC) sent a letter to the Biden administration requesting U.S. government assistance and provision of secure internet access capabilities for the Iranian people.

In this letter, NIAC referenced “widespread suppression of protests in Iran and internet disruption and cutoffs by the government” and asked Biden administration officials, including the Treasury Department, to amend the government’s executive order and regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to provide Iranians access to free internet.

The letter requested that by amending certain sections of OFAC guidelines regarding Iran, it becomes possible to send equipment and necessary tools to facilitate Iranian citizens’ access to the global internet.

The authors of this letter, addressed to the U.S. Secretaries of State and Treasury, expressed deep concern about the suppression of Iranian citizens by the government and security forces following price increases of essential goods and subsidy cuts. They warned of incidents similar to the November 2019 protests “during which hundreds of Iranians were killed amid nationwide internet shutdowns” and called for decisive action by the United States government to prevent violations of “Iranians’ right to free communication.”

After more than two weeks of economic protests in various Iranian cities, reports indicate citizens’ access to cyberspace has been cut off and internet communications have slowed.

Criticism of the country’s dire economic and financial situation and economic conditions has intensified in recent days, while the Raisi government speaks of “economic surgery” and continues to insist on its promise to improve economic conditions.

Source: Voice of America