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In the USA too, here in Los Angeles, people are taking to the streets for Mahsa Amini
Photo:
BING GUAN / REUTERS
The US government wants to give people in Iran better access to the Internet and independent news.
According to the Treasury Department in Washington, American IT companies will be allowed to expand their business activities in Iran in the future.
Existing restrictions have been partially lifted.
An updated permit will enable companies to offer more online services in Iran again, including social media, video conferencing software and cloud services.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the measure was intended to expand the “free flow of information and access to fact-based information for the people of Iran”.
"These steps will help counter the Iranian government's efforts to monitor and censor its citizens."
US changes course because of the ongoing protests
US sanctions, which were imposed on Iran back in 2014, had previously prevented IT companies from offering their full range of services in the country.
The background to the US change of course is the current massive restriction of access to the Internet by the Iranian government as a result of ongoing protests.
Mobile networks in particular are largely switched off.
Just over a week ago, 22-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini was arrested by the vice squad for violating the strict Islamic dress code.
What exactly happened to Amini after her arrest is unclear.
Anyway, she went into a coma and died in a hospital on Friday.
Critics accuse the morality police of using violence.
The police deny the allegations.
Since then, thousands of people have been demonstrating across the country against the government's repressive course.
But also in the rest of the world, people are taking to the streets to express solidarity with Iranian women.
czl/dpa