Iranian Foreign Ministry: US attempts to violate our sovereignty will not go unanswered

To support the protests there, Musk will activate Starlink in Iran as he did in Ukraine

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, said on Friday that he will activate the company's satellite Internet service, "Starlink" in Iran, in response to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's tweet that the United States has taken measures to "strengthen freedom of movement." Internet and the free flow of information” for Iranians, according to a Reuters report.

For its part, the US Treasury issued - on Friday - directives to expand Internet services available to Iranians despite US sanctions on the country, amid protests in Iran after the death of a 22-year-old woman in custody.

"As we understand Starlink, what they are providing will be commercial service, and the devices will be not covered by the GPL, so they need to write to the Treasury about it," Treasury reporters said in brief.

For his part, a US State Department spokesman said - later on the approval of the expansion of Internet services in accordance with the license presented on Friday - that it is considered self-executing and that "anyone who meets the criteria described in this general license can proceed with providing their activities without requesting permissions." additional".

Media agencies were unable to reach Musk for comments or clarification on Starlink's authorization to operate in Iran.

The Iranians protested the death of Mahsa Amini - last week - while she was in police custody, after the morality police arrested her for wearing "inappropriate clothes".

And last Monday, Musk said that the company wanted to provide Starlink satellite broadband service - which has already been provided to Ukraine in its war with Russia - to the Iranians, and that would require an exemption from sanctions against Iran.

The State Department spokesperson added that if SpaceX determines that certain activities targeting Iranians require a specific license, "OFAC will welcome and prioritize them."

"By the same token, if SpaceX determines that its activity is indeed authorized and has any questions, OFAC also welcomes such participation," a State Department spokesperson said.