Trump Taps Musk to Restore Internet Access in Iran
US President Donald Trump has said he will speak with billionaire Elon Musk about restoring internet services in Iran, where a four-day-long shutdown amid ongoing anti-government protests has effectively halted the flow of information. The report was carried by Reuters.
Responding to a question from reporters in Washington, Trump said Musk is well suited for such a task and has the necessary technological capability. He noted that Starlink, the satellite-based internet service operated by Musk’s company SpaceX, has been used in Iran in the past.
Iran has been experiencing an internet blackout since Thursday, during what is being described as the country’s largest protests against its religious leadership since 2022. Previously, Elon Musk had expressed support for enabling Iranians to use Starlink to bypass internet restrictions during periods of unrest.
The protests began on December 28 over rising prices and later escalated into a broader movement against the ruling establishment. According to human rights organisations, more than 100 people have been killed and over a thousand arrested so far.
