Iranian law enforcement agencies reported a large-scale operation to identify and confiscate Starlink satellite equipment. Over the past few months, police have seized 108 terminals intended for illegal internet access. Notably, 51 devices were carefully disguised and hidden among ordinary commercial shipments, indicating the existence of established smuggling channels.
According to Iranian authorities, Starlink satellite communications are actively used to circumvent state-imposed internet restrictions and are employed by participants in protest actions. Official statements emphasize that such communication channels allegedly make it possible to coordinate activities and maintain contacts with foreign intelligence services during periods of mass unrest.
It is noteworthy that Starlink, originally created as a civilian global internet system for remote and hard-to-reach regions, is increasingly becoming the focus of geopolitical conflicts. In a number of countries, the satellite network is perceived not only as a technological breakthrough, but also as an instrument of influence capable of fundamentally changing the balance of control over the information space even when traditional communication channels are completely shut down.
