Overview
- Iran’s near-total loss of international connectivity has stretched to 18 days, according to NetBlocks, which reports only limited, state-controlled intranet access for most users.
- State-linked Fars said authorities confiscated hundreds of Starlink terminals, warning that procurement and use of unauthorized systems constitute a crime under wartime provisions.
- Iranian police reported arresting a 37-year-old accused of running a network to sell ‘unfiltered’ internet, saying a Starlink device and related equipment were found at his hideout.
- Media reports earlier this year said thousands of Starlink units were smuggled into Iran, though device seizures underscore that access hinges on physical terminals.
- Regional policy continues to diverge as Elon Musk announced Starlink availability in Kuwait, with regulators in Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain and Israel allowing the service, Lebanon licensing it, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia listed as pending approval.