President Donald Trump while speaking to reporters on AirForce One on Sunday, revealed his plans to speak with Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, about the possibility of using the company’s Starlink satellite internet service to reinstate internet access in Iran, which have been shut down for four days due to ongoing anti-government protests.
“He’s very good at that kind of thing, he’s got a very good company,” Trump said acknowledging Musk’s expertise in this area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfIaJSdDnN0
The internet blackout in Iran has disrupted the flow of information since Thursday, coinciding with significant protests against the country’s clerical establishment. Even Starlink satellite connections, previously a fallback option, have been largely disrupted, as per Iran Wire. Previously, the government relied on partial, localized restrictions, but this time the shutdown is comprehensive, raising serious concerns about the safety of protesters and ordinary citizens.
On Monday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in a Tehran broadcast by state TV, said the country is not seeking war but is fully prepared for one, while also expressing openness to “fair negotiations” based on mutual respect, as per the Times of Israel. His comments came after Trump claimed Iran’s leadership wanted talks following his threat of possible military intervention over the crackdown on protests.
Iran Signals Retaliation Amid Internet Blackout
Despite the blackout, Iran has been vocal about its stance against the U.S. The country’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, warned of potential attacks on U.S. military bases in the Middle East in response to any U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites.
Trump, on the other hand, has escalated tensions with Iran by threatening to hit the country “very hard” in response to the nationwide protests and the subsequent crackdown by Iranian authorities.
Restoring internet access in Iran could potentially ease the flow of information and communication within the country, and also between Iran and the rest of the world.
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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