TEHRAN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned Norwegian Ambassador to Tehran Paal Bjornestad over Norway's continued failure to act against the "unauthorized" operation of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service on Iranian territory.
The Norwegian envoy was summoned Sunday by Mohammad Hassan-Nejad Pirkouhi, director general for international peace and security at Iran's Foreign Ministry, according to a ministry statement.
Pirkouhi strongly criticized Norway for failing to fulfill its obligations as one of the countries that registered the Starlink network with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), emphasizing that the Norwegian government is obliged to prevent "unauthorized" Starlink transmissions in Iranian territory.
At the meeting, the Iranian diplomat elaborated on the "abuse" by the United States and Israel of Starlink satellite internet systems to "advance their interventionist measures" against Iran, and protested Norway's "inaction" over Starlink's "unauthorized" operations in Iranian territory.
Despite Iran's repeated follow-ups on the issue, Pirkouhi said Norway has taken no effective action.
He called on Bjornestad to immediately convey Iran's request to his government for "effective and immediate" action to halt activities that compromise Iran's national security and territorial sovereignty through the operation of Starlink satellite internet systems.
Iranian authorities have prohibited the use of Starlink satellite internet in the country over security concerns. ■
