The Trump administration has secretly facilitated the delivery of approximately 6,000 Starlink satellite-internet terminals into Iran, a significant covert operation aimed at restoring connectivity for dissidents after Tehran severed internet access to crush nationwide protests. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the operation marks the first time the U.S. government has directly coordinated the smuggling of Starlink hardware into the country on such a scale.
The initiative comes in the wake of a violent and sweeping crackdown by Iranian security forces in January, which quelled one of the most significant anti-regime uprisings in years. The protests, initially sparked by a collapse in the Iranian rial and deteriorating economic conditions, quickly spiraled into broad demonstrations against the theocratic leadership. As unrest spread to major cities, Iranian authorities implemented a near-total internet blackout, effectively cutting off the flow of information both within the country and to the outside world.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the shipment of the Starlink kits as a critical effort to keep communication lines open for Iranian activists and ordinary citizens. By circumventing the state-controlled telecommunications infrastructure, the satellite terminals allow users to bypass government censorship and surveillance. The terminals, manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, connect directly to a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, making them difficult for authoritarian regimes to disable completely without physical confiscation or sophisticated electronic warfare.
The decision to send the hardware underscores a shift in Washington’s approach to digital freedom in adversarial nations. While previous U.S. administrations have issued licenses to allow tech companies to operate in sanctioned countries or supported third-party groups, this operation represents a more direct intervention. President Donald Trump had previously signaled his intent to support the protesters, telling reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this year that he planned to speak with Elon Musk about restoring internet access for the Iranian people. “We may get the internet going if that’s possible,” Trump stated at the time.
The smuggling operation faced significant logistical and technical hurdles. Reports indicate that the Iranian regime has deployed military-grade jamming technology, allegedly supplied by foreign adversaries such as Russia or China, to disrupt satellite signals. Despite these countermeasures, activists on the ground have reportedly used the terminals to upload footage of the crackdown, which rights groups estimate has resulted in the deaths of over 2,500 protesters.
The distribution of the terminals relies on a clandestine network of activists and smugglers who transport the equipment across Iran’s porous borders. Once inside, the units are dispersed to trusted networks in urban centers where the crackdown has been most severe. The sheer volume of 6,000 units represents a massive escalation compared to previous private efforts, which had managed to introduce only a few hundred devices into the country.
Tehran has reacted furiously to the breach of its digital blockade. Iranian security forces have reportedly begun raiding apartment complexes in Tehran and other cities, confiscating satellite dishes and arresting those found in possession of Starlink equipment. The regime has characterized the protests as foreign-instigated riots and has accused the United States of violating international law by interfering in its domestic affairs.
For the Trump administration, the operation serves dual purposes: it undermines the Iranian regime’s ability to control the narrative during moments of crisis and fulfills a promise to support “freedom of speech” on a global stage. However, the move also risks escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, potentially complicating any future diplomatic engagements.
As the situation on the ground remains volatile, the influx of satellite terminals offers a tenuous lifeline for Iranian civil society. With the traditional internet still heavily restricted, these devices have become one of the few reliable means for Iranians to document the ongoing struggle and communicate their plight to the international community.
Story: The Wall Street journal
