Iran intensifies persecution of Starlink users during nationwide internet blackout

Quick summary!

The Iranian regime began a systematic hunt for Starlink satellite terminals after protesters circumvented the official internet block imposed by the government. With more than 2,000 dead and 10,000 detained, the situation escalated into what experts classify as “electronic warfare” — while Elon Musk offers the service for free and Donald Trump evaluates strategic intervention in the Persian country.

A few days ago, agents of the Iranian regime began door-to-door operations in western Tehran to locate and confiscate Starlink antennas. The offensive represents a significant tactical shift: for the first time, authorities are not just blocking local infrastructure, but actively pursuing satellite communications technology that operates outside of state control.

Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at Miaan Group (a non-profit organization based in the US), reported that the outages are timed with surgical precision, intensifying precisely in areas and times where protests occur, especially at night, when protesters congregate. This “selective blackout” strategy aims to prevent images of the brutal repression from reaching global social media.

The blackout that took down 90% of the National Internet

On Thursday, January 8, Iran executed one of the largest internet blackouts ever recorded in the country. Data from Cloudflare, a company specializing in global traffic monitoring, indicated a drop of approximately 90% in connectivity that night. The measure comes amid massive protests that have lasted for weeks, started because of the serious economic crisis and the brutal devaluation of the Iranian rial, a national currency shattered by years of international sanctions and the recovery from the war against Israel in June 2025.

The official number of victims is unclear precisely because of information censorship: the HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency), US-based human rights group has verified 2,571 deaths until January 14 — including 2,403 protesters, 147 security forces and 21 civilians.

On Tuesday (13), an unidentified Iranian official admitted to Reuters about 2,000 deathsparadoxically blaming the “terrorist” protesters for the casualties. Around 10,000 people have already been detained, but the data is inaccurate due to the difficulty in verifying information with government restrictions

Musk activates Starlink’s “Geopolitical Mode”

Billionaire Elon Musk started offering Starlink’s satellite internet service for free to Iran, according to Bloomberg. The confirmation came from Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the American group Holistic Resilience, which works directly with Iranians to guarantee access to the network.

This move is nothing new for Starlink. In 2023, he released free access to Ukraine shortly after the Russian invasion; more recently, it offered free broadband to Venezuelans after the United States detains Nicolás Maduro in early 2026. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment on the Iranian operation.

Trump evaluates “massive shipment” of Terminals

President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene directly in the Iranian crisis, prompting harsh reactions from authorities in Tehran. This Tuesday (13), Trump met with advisors to evaluate options for American action, one of the main proposals under discussion is the large-scale sending of Starlink terminals to the Persian country.

The strategy poses a direct challenge to the regime: Unlike undersea cables or cell towers that can be turned off, Starlink’s network of low-orbit satellites operates beyond the physical reach of Iranian authorities. The service was already officially banned in Iran before the protests, but the ban proved ineffective in the face of distributed technology.

“Electronic warfare” that hides atrocities

Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at Miaan Group, reported that the interruptions are timed with surgical precision — they intensify precisely in areas and times where protests occur, especially at night, when protesters gather.

This “selective blackout” strategy aims to prevent images of brutal repression from reaching global social media. For protesters, publishing videos and photos is one of the few ways to denounce the brutality experienced on the streets. Each video that escapes the digital siege represents an informational defeat for the Iranian government.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS: CURRENT images arrive via Starlink of a large demonstration in Tehran, Iran.

The Iranian people are defeating the CRUELTY of the regime and need us to be their voice.

Share this everywhere. Make it viral.pic.twitter.com/5c7zx3h5Oq

— Isaac (@isaacrrr7) January 14, 2026

By intensifying the blockade, authorities inadvertently turned Starlink into a symbol of technological resistance, and now they must wage a door-to-door war against satellite dishes that, unlike cell towers, fit in backpacks and can be reinstalled in minutes.