The US presidential administration is in talks with Elon Musk to provide the Starlink network to Iranian protesters. The White House suggests that the Iranian authorities may cut off Internet access to the country's residents, CNN reports . The Starlink system will help the protesters with communications.
“We have our finger on the pulse to do everything possible to support the aspirations of the Iranian people,” a senior Biden administration official told CNN. “It's our policy, period. At the same time, this is a truly Iranian movement, led by young girls and spreading to other sections of society. And we don't want to overshadow their movement in any way."
Protests in Iran erupted more than a month ago after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in a hospital. She was arrested and beaten by the vice police in Tehran. Witnesses reported that Amini was beaten in the detention van, but the police denied this. Doctors diagnosed Amini with a stroke and a heart attack, her kidneys failed, and the girl fell into a coma. Officials deny all allegations and say that the deceased simply started having heart problems.
Internet from Elon Musk's Starlink also works in Ukraine. SpaceX claims it has already cost $80 million to provide Starlink services in Ukraine, and will exceed $100 million by the end of the year. Musk said that the US government needed to remove this burden from SpaceX and pay the costs, but then published a message that he would continue to fund Starlink in Ukraine.