Iran targets Starlink as ‘tool of war’ with hints of more internet curbs

Key points

• Iran has pledged to continue cracking down on Starlink, calling it a tool of war for enemies.
• Starlink is outlawed in Iran, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment and even the death penalty.
• Iran has imposed two lengthy internet shutdowns in 2026, and more restrictions could follow if the war intensifies.

Iranian authorities have vowed to keep cracking down on Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, and to impose further restrictions on global internet access as the war with the United States and Israel continues. Starlink is banned in Iran on national security grounds, and using or distributing its terminals can lead to fines and imprisonment.

Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme National Cyberspace Council, described Starlink as a "tool of war" used by enemies for command and control, espionage and information gathering. He said Iran has several systems for cutting Starlink satellite terminals but did not give details.

Penalties and enforcement

Iran has set baseline sentences of six months to two years for using or possessing Starlink. Importing and distributing the devices carry jail terms of up to five years, and if paired with national security or espionage charges, individuals can face the death penalty.

A Tehran-based internet expert, speaking anonymously, said authorities use multiple jammers, spoofed GPS locations, and identification of Starlink-associated internet protocols to block connections. They also physically intercept terminals through patrols, drone searches, and raids on sellers.

It is a tool used for command and control by the enemy, for espionage and information gathering. We have several systems for cutting Starlink satellite terminals.

— Mohammad Amin Aghamiri

Diplomatic and domestic measures

Since 2023, Iran has pursued the matter at the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations Board, trying to pressure the US and Norway to halt Starlink transmissions. On October 4, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Norwegian ambassador in Tehran to protest what it called a failure to act over unauthorized Starlink operations.

Aghamiri has called on Iranians to use domestic platforms supported by the National Information Network and backed a tiered-access model for selected groups during internet restrictions. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said state bodies sometimes deliberately slow internet speeds to protect databases and services from cyberattacks, adding, "We don't deny this issue."