SpaceX is expanding Starlink globally. However, it has to grapple with international sanctions in some countries. The company has found supporters in the persons of US lawmakers, as reported by Bloomberg.
The lawmakers are urging the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to give SpaceX an exemption to operate Starlink internet service in Iran. The middle-east country is under heavy sanctions, preventing many US-based companies from expanding there.
Iran faces wide protests, with the latest claiming 17 lives. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had recently revealed his company would attempt to get a license to switch on Starlink in Iran.
The lawmakers asked Yellen to approve SpaceX’s request immediately in a letter led by New York Republican Claudia Tenney, Tom Malinowski, a New York Democrat, and other lawmakers.
Tenney said, “Congress is calling on the Treasury Department to do everything in its power to help the Iranian people stay connected to the Internet. We need to cut through any bureaucratic red tape and get this done.”
Meanwhile, a US Treasury Department spokesperson said SpaceX might not need a license, after all, to set up Starlink in Iran.
The SpaceX team has been busy lately. It met with Zambian officials on how to bring Starlink to the African nation.
