Iran Cracks Down on Starlink: Blocking ’Foreign Tech Influence’ and Underground Web Access

Iran slams the door on Elon Musk’s satellite internet—claiming national security while citizens seek workarounds.

Subheader: The Great Firewall of Tehran Gets Taller

No more sneaky SpaceX signals. Iran’s telecom regulators just blacklisted Starlink, calling it a ‘Trojan horse for Western agendas.’ Meanwhile, underground users scramble for VPNs and mesh networks—because apparently, bureaucracy moves slower than a 56k modem when it comes to local infrastructure.

Subheader: Finance Jab Alert

Gold, Bitcoin, now satellite bandwidth—another asset Iran can’t control but will desperately overpay to circumvent. (Pro tip: authoritarianism is *still* bad for GDP.)

TLDRs;

• Iran has officially banned Starlink, labeling it a national security threat amid fears of foreign influence and unregulated internet access.
• New legislation criminalizes the use, sale, or possession of Starlink equipment, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and flogging.
• Authorities claim satellite internet was exploited during wartime blackouts to evade censorship and possibly aid foreign espionage.
• Human rights groups argue the move deepens Iran’s digital repression and isolates citizens from uncensored global communication.

Iran has officially banned Starlink, the satellite internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, in what authorities describe as a defensive MOVE against “foreign influence” and rising underground access to uncensored digital content.

The country’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has declared all usage, possession, and distribution of Starlink equipment illegal, reinforcing the regime’s efforts to tighten control over the information landscape.

Government Justifies Ban as National Security Measure

The move comes amid growing reports that Iranians, frustrated with the government’s censorship and frequent internet blackouts, have turned to satellite internet as a lifeline to the outside world.

In recent months, underground Starlink terminals have reportedly proliferated across urban and remote areas, often smuggled in through black market channels. These terminals bypass state firewalls and allow users to access blocked platforms and independent news, sparking alarm within the Iranian leadership.

Iranian ICT Minister Eisa Zarepour justified the ban as necessary to protect national security and prevent foreign actors from undermining the country’s regulatory frameworks.

“Iran will not permit foreign entities to bypass lawful regulations under the pretext of providing internet access,” he said during a press briefing.

New Legislation Imposes Harsh Penalties

While Iranian officials insist the decision is about safeguarding sovereignty, critics argue it’s another LAYER in an expanding digital iron curtain. Advocacy groups like Access Now have condemned the ban, warning that criminalizing access to satellite internet only serves to deepen repression and disconnect citizens from the global community.

The Iranian parliament recently ratified legislation that expands penalties for using unauthorized communication tools like Starlink. The law introduces severe punishments, including steep fines, public flogging, and prison sentences of up to two years. In cases where satellite communication is tied to cooperation with hostile states, such as Israel, the charges escalate to “corruption on earth”, a capital offense under Iranian law.

The escalation follows a period of increased tension between Iran and Israel, during which internet access was repeatedly shut down. Reports from that time suggest Starlink terminals were covertly deployed by activists and possibly foreign operatives to sustain communication flows during the blackout. Iranian lawmakers have since cited the potential for espionage as a key reason for outlawing the technology.

Rights Groups Decry Ban

Enforcing the ban, however, may be difficult. Starlink’s compact and mobile hardware makes it hard for authorities to detect, and border officials are already struggling to stem the FLOW of smuggled devices. Still, the ICT Ministry has announced heightened inspections and warned citizens that they face prosecution if found in possession of the prohibited gear.

The law still awaits final approval by Iran’s Guardian Council, the constitutional body that vets all parliamentary decisions. Given the Council’s alignment with hardline interests, the measure is expected to pass without opposition.

No response has been issued by SpaceX or Elon Musk, although digital rights advocates have urged tech firms to continue supporting circumvention tools in countries with high censorship levels.