US lifts key high-tech sanctions against Iran

Move seen as bid to counter government's plan to crackdown on social media in lead-up to next month's presidential poll.

Social media and technology were key in the post-presidential election protests of 2009 [AFP]

The US has lifted a ban on sales of communications equipment to Iranians, and opened access to internet services and social media, in what it said was a bid to help Iranians avoid government controls as June 14 presidential elections near. Thursday's decision immediately allowed US companies to begin selling computers, tablets, mobile phones, software, satellite receivers and other equipment for personal use to Iranians, after such sales had been banned under sweeping sanctions on the country. Spotlight Follow in-depth coverage of Iran's presidential poll Also allowed were the sales and free provision of internet communications like instant messaging, email, social networking, sharing of photos and movies, web browsing and blogging. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the action would allow Iranians to skirt the government's "attempts to silence its people" and help them exercise "the right to freedom of expression". The US Treasury issued a general license allowing the sales of personal communications equipment and services by Americans, banned until now under sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran over its nuclear programme. But a ban remained in place on selling to the Iranian government or any entity or individual specifically designated for US sanctions. "Freedom of speech, assembly and expression are universal human rights," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen. "We will use all the tools at our disposal, including licenses that facilitate communication and designations to target those responsible for human rights abuses, to help the Iranian people exercise these basic rights." More sanctions Meanwhile, the Treasury also put sanctions on Asghar Mir-Hejazi, the deputy chief of staff for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameini, and on the government censor, the Committee to Determine Instances of Criminal Content (CDICC), for "contributing to serious human rights abuses ... including through the use of communications technology to silence and intimidate the Iranian people". With the creation of the CDICC, the Treasury said, Iran's internet filtering censorship "has become more systematic and uniform," aiming at information the government "deems against the regime's national beliefs and safety". It called Mir-Hejazi "the working brain behind the scenes of important events," including directing oppressive government acts following the June 2009 post-election unrest. In addition, the State Department announced it had placed visa restrictions on nearly 60 Iranians, mainly from the government, for their "role in the ongoing repression of students, human rights defenders, lawyers, artists" and others.

Source: Agencies