Is it the provocation of too much by asking to work with Iran on a very sensitive subject like space, knowing that Iran declares since years to want to destroy the State of Israel and that Iran is watched very closely by the UN.

Elon Musk declared that “Starlink will apply for an exemption to the sanctions against Iran” in order to be able to offer its service there. Elon Musk initially announced that Starlink was now available on all continents, “including Antarctica,” as the company plans to launch up to 42,000 satellites to offer broadband from space.

By offering the services in Iran, it could be a “real game changer for the future” of the country, reacted Iranian-born science journalist Erfan Kasraie, prompting Musk’s response.

The service, Starlink was launched in late 2020, the Starlink service allows access to the Internet especially in areas poorly served by fixed and mobile terrestrial networks, monetizing the purchase of an antenna and a modem and a subscription whose rates vary by country.

Starlink received a boost in the spotlight after supplying antennas and modems to the Ukrainian military to improve its communications capabilities.

Elon Musk’s group, SpaceX, has deployed nearly 3,000 Starlink satellites since 2019 and is conducting about one launch a week with its own Falcon 9 rockets to speed up the deployment of its constellation. Iran has been under an enhanced U.S. sanctions regime since former President Donald Trump’s termination of the 2015 agreement regarding its nuclear activities.

President Joe Biden has been supportive of renegotiating the deal, Iranian insistence on guarantees from the U.S. administration is stalling talks.