IRAN Act

(a) Findings. Congress finds the followings:

(1) The Government of Iran has repeatedly disrupted, throttled, or shut down internet connectivity, impeding the ability of the Iranian people to communicate during emergencies and to exercise internationally recognized human rights.

(2) Satellite-based residential and direct-to-cell (DTC) communications, virtual private networks services (VPN services), embedded-SIM (eSIM) technology, and other circumvention tools can mitigate those shutdowns, but Iranian users face high costs, sanctions-related equipment barriers, and pervasive digital surveillance.

(3) Clarifying United States policy and supporting secure connectivity tools will materially enhance internet resilience for the people of Iran.

(b) Sense of congress. It is the sense of Congress that United States policy should—

(1) promote the deployment of DTC communications, VPN services, eSIM technology, and other secure communications tools that enhance open access to the internet in Iran; and

(2) ensure that sanctions and export-control regulations are implemented in a manner that does not unintentionally hinder access to such tools by the Iranian people.