The U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors has accused Iran of jamming satellite radio and television broadcasts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The board maintains that the jamming, which occurred during the protests in Iran triggered by the currency crisis, are contrary to international telecommunications regulations.
The jamming, which reportedly began on Wednesday, blocked Voice of America’s Persian service, Radio Farda’s Persian programming and BBC broadcasts.
According to the statement, the jamming was blocking signals from the European satellite company Eutelsat and affected broadcasts for Iran as well as programs in Georgia, Armenia, Bosnia and Korea.
Iranian authorities regard foreign satellite broadcasts as a threat to national security and, in addition to jamming satellite broadcasts, they regularly raid homes in order to confiscate satellite dishes.