The Treasury Department has allowed U.S. hi-tech companies to export online services and social media software to Iran, Cuba and Sudan to help people in those countries communicate with the outside world.
The waiver under existing economic sanctions against these three nations would allow exports of tools related to Web browsing, blogging, email, instant messaging, chat, social networking and photo- and movie-sharing.
Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin said in a statement on Monday that the move was intended to "ensure that individuals in these countries can exercise their universal right to free speech and information to the greatest extent possible."
"As recent events in Iran have shown, personal Internet-based communications like email, instant messaging and social networking are powerful tools," he said.
During protests in Iran in June last year following the country's disputed presidential elections, opposition supporters widely used social networking sites and services such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in their communications.
The United States has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since 1962, and has banned practically all trade with Iran and Sudan since 1997.
WASHINGTON, March 9 (RIA Novosti)
