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Google plonks downloads on Iran after US lifts sanctions
Freedom, you've gotta give for what you take
Google is bringing software downloads of some of its products to Iran, after the US government relaxed export restrictions in the country.
The world's largest ad broker confirmed in a blog post yesterday that its Google Earth, Picasa and Chrome browser products could all now be installed in Iran.
But the company said it would continue to adhere to Washington's "strict" export policy in that country, where in June 2009 Google bigged up its subversive credentials by offering a Farsi translation tool.
That was the same week that Twitter was credited with potentially powering a people's revolution in Iran, which it didn't.
Google stuck to similar rhetoric on Tuesday, but having agreed to an export licences deal with the US Treasury Department, the company briefly added that it would "continue to block IP addresses associated with the Iranian government".
The Mountain View Chocolate Factory followed its commitment-to-sanctions message with more sugar-coating about "choice", "freedom" and "power" for Iranians, the world, and - perhaps most importantly - Google. ®