The U.S. Special Envoy for Iran stated in a series of tweets that the U.S. sanctions against the company 'Abar Arvan' on Friday are in line with Washington's support for the Iranian people's access to free internet against disruptions, censorship, and internet surveillance imposed by the Islamic Republic with the help of this company. According to Robert Malley, Abar Arvan claims to be an innocent, emerging tech startup shining in the Iranian tech ecosystem, but this claim is far from reality. He further stated that Abar Arvan has a close relationship with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, and its senior managers are current or former affiliates of this ministry. This senior U.S. diplomat added that Abar Arvan is a key partner of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in developing the 'National Information Network' or national internet, which was created by Iranian officials to facilitate the disconnection of the Iranian people from the global internet. According to Robert Malley, Abar Arvan has taken on the responsibility of disrupting data through contracts with the Iranian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, allowing Iranian officials to control, censor, and monitor all data using the company's servers. He also warned that any transactions by American citizens or transactions within the U.S. with these individuals and companies are prohibited, and any foreign entity that knowingly facilitates financial services to them will be subject to U.S. sanctions. This senior U.S. diplomat noted that sanctions are just one of the tools of the Biden-Harris administration to maintain the free flow of information for the Iranian people, adding that the U.S. supports the development and launch of anti-censorship tools to maintain communication among millions of people in Iran and around the world. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Friday, June 2, the sanctioning of the technology company 'Abar Arvan', two of its founders, and an affiliated company for participating in facilitating internet censorship in Iran.
Robert Malley: The Sanctioning of 'Abar Arvan' Supports Iranians' Access to Free and Uncensored Internet
The U.S. has sanctioned the Iranian company Abar Arvan for its role in facilitating internet censorship in Iran. Robert Malley, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, emphasized that these sanctions aim to support Iranians' access to free internet. This move is part of broader U.S. efforts to counter Iranian government censorship.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. sanctioned the Iranian tech company Abar Arvan for its involvement in internet censorship. This action is part of U.S. efforts to support free internet access for Iranians.
- Abar Arvan is linked to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence.
- The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the sanctions.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of internet censorship, often restricting access during protests or political unrest. The U.S. has frequently used sanctions to pressure the Iranian government on human rights issues.
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Translation confidence: 85%