MTN under fire as Iran unrest escalates
On today's edition of Techpoint Digest, we discuss MTN's growing pressure to exit Iran, when loss, lyrics, and AI collide, and Mauritania threatens fines and licence loss for SIM violations.
こんにちは,
Victoria for Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
MTN faces growing pressure to exit Iran
He can’t sing, but his AI artist is on Spotify
Mauritania threatens fines, licence loss over SIM violations
MTN under fire as Iran unrest escalates
MTN’s office
When a telecom company gets dragged into street protests, Internet shutdowns, and geopolitics, you know it’s no longer just a business story. That’s where MTN finds itself in Iran, caught between an authoritarian government, angry citizens, and growing pressure from investors and human rights watchers.
The latest call is blunt: MTN should cut its losses and leave Iran. That’s the view of economist Iraj Abedian, who says the company risks serious reputational and financial damage if it stays put amid nationwide protests against Iran’s ruling theocratic regime, per MyBroadband. Those protests, sparked by inflation and a collapsing currency, quickly turned into broader anti-government demonstrations, met with violence and an internet blackout enforced by telcos, including MTN’s affiliate, Irancell.
Why this matters is simple. Internet shutdowns aren’t neutral technical decisions; they’re political acts with real-world consequences. By complying with blackout orders, MTN risks being seen as enabling repression, even if it insists it has no choice under local law. Abedian argues this puts the company in a no-win situation: stay and be labelled a collaborator, or leave and take a financial hit.
The context makes things messier. MTN has been trying to exit the Middle East since 2020 and has already pulled out of Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Iran is different. US sanctions mean MTN can’t sell its stake, move money in, or take money out. As CEO, Ralph Mupita, puts it, the investment is essentially a “frozen asset.” Meanwhile, the group is already dealing with civil lawsuits and a US grand jury probe over past operations in conflict zones, claims MTN denies.
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