VOA新闻杂志2022--美国允许科技公司增加伊朗的互联网接入

US Lets Tech Companies Increase Internet Access in Iran

The United States Treasury¹ Department said last week it will permit American technology companies to expand their business in Iran. The goal is to increase internet access for the Iranian people.

The Iranian government cut most internet access for its 80 million citizens following protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini died while in the custody² of Iran's morality police.

Iranian state television suggests that as many as 26 protesters and police officers have been killed since violence broke out over the weekend.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the move will help fight back againt the Iranian government's surveillance efforts.

"It is clear that the Iranian government is afraid of its own people," Blinken said in a statement. "Mahsa Amini is senselessly, tragically³ dead, and now the government is violently suppressing peaceful protesters rightly angry about her loss."

The morality police arrested Amini last week. They said she did not correctly cover her hair with the Islamic headscarf, called the hijab. Amini collapsed⁴ at a police station and died three days later.

U.S. sanctions went into effect Thursday on the morality police and leaders of other law enforcement agencies.

The Treasury Department updated its general license⁵ Friday. The new license permits tech companies to offer more social media services, video meeting and cloud-based services.

The updated license also removes the requirement that communications be "personal." The Treasury Department said that requirement was troubling companies with the need to prove the purpose of the communications.

The Iranian government said the United States was supporting rioters and seeking to harm the Islamic Republic.

"Washington is always trying to weaken Iran's stability and security although it has been unsuccessful," said Iran's Foreign Ministry⁶ spokesperson during a television appearance.

Amir Rashidi is an exiled Iranian who is director of internet security and digital rights at Miaan Group. He said lifting restrictions⁷ will help Iranians avoid censorship laws.

"Also it's going to provide Iranians with safety and security," he said. "When you can have your data outside the country Iranian security services cannot unlawfully access your data because your data is protected by international law outside Iran."

In 2014, the Treasury Department issued a license permitting exports of software and services to Iran that would permit the free exchange of communication and ideas over the internet. The hope was to spread information to Iranian citizens.

Even so, U.S. companies have been unwilling⁸ to do business in Iran because of fears of violating existing sanctions and other laws.

On Monday, Tesla head Elon Musk⁹ tweeted that his satellite internet company Starlink would seek permission to operate in Iran. National security adviser¹⁰ Jake Sullivan said it was up to Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to decide on Starlink's next steps.

The White House said the move, along with a recent increase in sanctions, does not affect the administration's plans to reenter the Iran nuclear deal.

"We have concerns, we do, with Iran," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. But the Iran deal "is the best way for us to address the nuclear problem."

Words in This Story

access — n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

custody — n. the legal right to take care of a child

surveillance — n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime

sanction — n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc.

license — n. an official document, card, etc., that gives you permission to do, use, or have something

censorship — n. the system or practice of censoring¹¹ books, movies, letters, etc.

address — v. to give attention to

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

3 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

9 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 censoring   

删剪（书籍、电影等中被认为犯忌、违反道德或政治上危险的内容）( censor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Therefore, exhibitors shall not make use of these materials before censoring. 展商在审查前不可使用这些资料。
• The company then said it would end self-censoring search results, putting it at odds with Beijing. 随后该公司表示，将停止自我审查搜索结果，从而与中国政府发生对抗。