Overview
- The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that this was the first known direct delivery of Starlink systems into Iran to bypass regime blackouts.
- Officials said the State Department bought nearly 7,000 terminals in recent months, most in January, and covertly delivered about 6,000 into the country.
- Funding for the purchase was redirected from other internet‑freedom efforts, including VPN programs that depend on baseline connectivity.
- Using or possessing Starlink equipment is illegal in Iran, with reports of searches, seizures, and multi‑year prison risks for users as authorities try to curb access.
- President Trump was aware of the connectivity push, officials said, though it is unclear who authorized the smuggling, and the disclosure lands during sensitive U.S.–Iran nuclear talks and regional military posturing.