Overview
- Roughly 6,000 Starlink units were covertly delivered to Iran after authorities imposed a near‑nationwide internet shutdown and violent crackdown on protests in January, according to U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal.
- Officials said the State Department acquired nearly 7,000 terminals in recent months, with most purchased in January, marking the first known direct U.S. delivery of Starlink systems into Iran.
- Senior U.S. officials redirected funds from other connectivity programs to prioritize satellite kits, and support reportedly lapsed for two of five U.S.-backed VPN providers operating in Iran.
- Possession of Starlink hardware is illegal in Iran and can carry multi‑year prison terms, with reports of security forces searching homes and rooftops and employing interference tactics to disrupt terminals.
- President Donald Trump was aware of the broader effort to expand connectivity, though officials said it is unclear whether he personally authorized the smuggling operation, and the White House and State Department offered no immediate comment.