Billionaire Elon Musk says his company, SpaceX, will apply for an exemption from US sanctions imposed on Iran, so it can provide Internet service in that country. Iran has been subject to a tight US sanctions regime since Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord.
Billionaire Elon Musk has announced that his company, SpaceX, will apply for an exemption from US sanctions imposed on Iran in an effort to provide satellite Internet service in the country.
In response to a tweet by a science journalist, Musk said, "Starlink will file a request to be exempted from the sanctions imposed on Iran."
Musk initially announced that the Starlink satellite Internet service is now available on all continents "including Antarctica", while the company plans to launch up to 42,000 satellites to enhance connectivity.
Iranian-born journalist and science specialist, Irfan Kasraei, said on Twitter that introducing the service to Iran would "change the rules of the game for the future" of the country, which prompted a response from Musk.
Starlink, which was launched in late 2020, provides fast internet service to customers in regions where fixed and mobile terrestrial internet networks are weak, via a group of satellites placed in low Earth orbit.
The service became famous, especially after it provided antennas and "modems" to the Ukrainian army to improve its communications capabilities in the war with Russia.
Starlink generates revenue through purchases of antennas, modems, and subscriptions at prices that vary by country.
About 3,000 Starlink satellites have been launched since 2019, while SpaceX is making one launch every week, using its Falcon 9 rockets to speed up their deployment.
Iran has been subject to a tight US sanctions regime, since former US President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 agreement aimed at limiting its nuclear activities.
While current US President Joe Biden supports renegotiating the agreement, the Iranians' insistence on long-term guarantees from the Americans has brought the talks to a standstill.
A new round of sanctions was imposed on Iran this month after a Tehran-based company helped Russia take delivery of drones.
The sanctions were also in response to a massive cyber attack on Albania in July, which it accused of perpetrating Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and National Security.
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