The National Iranian American Council called on the Biden administration to help ensure safe access to the Internet for Iranians.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) sent a letter to the Biden administration, asking for the US government's help and providing safe internet access for the people of Iran.

In this letter, Nayak, referring to the "widespread suppression of protests in Iran and the government's disruption and shutdown of the internet," has asked Biden administration officials, including the Treasury Department, to provide Iranian people with access to a free internet by amending the government's executive order and the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The letter requests that certain clauses of OFAC's guidelines regarding Iran be amended to allow the sending of equipment and tools necessary to facilitate Iranian citizens' access to the global internet.

The authors of this letter, addressed to the US Secretaries of State and Treasury, expressed deep concern over the repression of Iranian citizens by the government and security forces following the increase in the prices of basic goods and the removal of subsidies. They warned of incidents similar to the November 2019 protests, "during which hundreds of Iranians were killed amid a nationwide internet shutdown," and called for decisive action by the US government to prevent the "right of the Iranian people to communicate freely" from being trampled upon.

After more than two weeks of livelihood protests in various cities in Iran, reports indicate that citizens' access to cyberspace has been cut off and internet connections have slowed down.

Criticism of the country's precarious living and financial situation and economic conditions has intensified in recent days, while the Raisi administration talks about economic surgery and continues to insist on its promise to improve economic conditions.

Source: Voice of America