Starlink Opens Internet Access in Iran: Musk Acts After Trump’s Call, Tehran Responds With Crackdown

Starlink, led by Elon Musk, has begun offering free internet access inside Iran. The move followed a phone call with Donald Trump and comes as Iranian authorities shut down nationwide connectivity while intensifying a crackdown on anti-government protests. Official reports cite more than 1,800 protesters killed, though human-rights groups warn the true toll may be significantly higher due to a near-total communications blackout. Even regime insiders reportedly found themselves offline for days. Two cybersecurity researchers say that so-called “white” SIM cards—still functional during the 2025 Iran–Israel conflict—were disconnected this time as well.

Smuggling Terminals Across Borders, Years in the Making A network of volunteers and technologists has launched smuggling operations to bring Starlink terminals into Iran, routing equipment through Iraqi Kurdistan and Armenia. One organizer—a software engineer who previously worked with Iranian authorities—left the country and now helps coordinate logistics. The group had prepared for a full shutdown for years. The effort relies on a 2022 sanctions exemption that allows U.S. tech firms to provide communications tools in Iran. Introduced under Joe Biden, the exemption is now being used by SpaceX to deliver satellite connectivity during the current crackdown. Users inside Iran can reportedly connect only in brief bursts. Terminals are hidden, powered on sparingly, and shut down quickly—amid drone patrols, neighborhood reporting, and security sweeps. Each connection carries risk.

State Pushback: Jamming and Seizures Iranian state TV has displayed over 1,000 seized devices, including phones and signal boosters. The Ministry of Information claims the equipment was smuggled for espionage and to bypass the blackout. Analyst Ahmadian says the government has deployed military-grade jamming against Starlink, similar to tactics used by Russia in Ukraine. Researchers at Project Ainita note that Iran has only two gateways to the global internet—Telecommunication Infrastructure Company and the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences—making nationwide cutoffs easier to enforce. Doug Madory of Kentik says Iran has built its own “Great Firewall,” allowing only approved traffic. With just two international links, he adds, cutting access is technically straightforward.

An Ongoing Battle for Information Activists occasionally manage to push videos online, but the signal flickers on and off. Many residents stay offline for safety, connecting only when necessary. Arrests continue, and the blackout persists. Experts stress that Iran’s approach differs from China’s model. While Beijing replaced global platforms with domestic apps like WeChat and TikTok, Tehran relies on hard disconnections and physical control of infrastructure—and is now racing to contain Starlink before it takes hold. The outcome remains uncertain. What is clear is that satellite internet has become a new frontline in the struggle between state power and civil society.

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