Elon Musk said Starlink will request exemptions from Iran sanctions to provide internet services amid anti-government protests after a woman died in police custody

Starlink will ask for exemptions from the sanctions against Iran to provide internet service in the country, according to Musk.

Musk was asked if the company would be able to provide internet service to Iranians. The Islamic republic is facing international sanctions.

Musk wrote that Starlink would ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions.

—Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 19, 2022

Musk said in May that Starlink has more than 400,000 users worldwide. In remote areas, it's designed to be used. The service is active on all seven continents according to Musk.

The death of a woman in police custody has led to protests in Iran. She was taken into custody by the morality police for not wearing her head covering correctly in Tehran. The Iranian police denied that Amini was mistreated.

Iran's internet users have reported that their internet service has been cut off in multiple cities. There was a near-total disruption to internet services in parts of the Kurdistan province, where Amini was from.

NetBlocks said the network disruptions are likely to limit the public's ability to express political discontent.

The internet is not free in Iran according to Freedom House.