The Trump administration covertly delivered approximately 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to Iran following a violent crackdown on protests in January, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Iranian media. The operation, substantiated by senior U.S. Officials, aimed to circumvent a nationwide internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities as they suppressed widespread unrest.
The State Department financed the effort, redirecting funds from existing “internet freedom” programs, including virtual private network (VPN) services, officials said. These VPNs had previously provided access to an estimated 20-30 million Iranians during the 2022 riots and a prior bombing campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal. The purchase of Starlink terminals represents a shift towards more direct support for anti-government activists seeking to bypass state censorship.
President Donald Trump was reportedly aware of the deliveries, though it remains unclear whether he directly authorized the operation. At the height of the protests, Trump publicly encouraged Iranian demonstrators, urging them on Truth Social to “take over your institutions if possible” and promising that “help is on its way.” He also deployed a U.S. Naval fleet to the region, fueling speculation about potential military intervention.
Iranian officials have consistently accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, alleging foreign interference in internal affairs. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated last month that over 3,000 people were killed during the protests, including what he described as 700 “terrorists” alongside civilians and security personnel. President Masoud Pezeshkian has further accused the U.S. And Israel of embedding “foreign terrorists” within protest crowds, alleging they employed tactics resembling those of ISIS, including the beheading of law enforcement officers and the burning of civilians.
The reported Starlink operation coincides with ongoing U.S. Efforts to pressure Iran into renegotiating a nuclear deal. Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and subsequent reimposition of sanctions have contributed to Iran’s economic hardship, which officials in Tehran cite as a primary driver of the unrest. Iran is currently the second most sanctioned country in the world, after Russia.
Moscow has characterized the U.S. Actions as an attempt to “destroy the Iranian state” through a “color revolution” strategy. The covert support for protesters, as revealed by the Starlink operation, expands upon existing U.S. Support for “internet freedom” tools in Iran and reflects a broader effort to challenge the Islamic Republic’s authority.
The Spanish Football Federation recently withdrew from a planned friendly match with Iran’s national team, following the crackdown on protests, according to Tehran-based outlet Football 360. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has warned that another U.S. Military operation against Iran “cannot be ruled out,” citing the increasing U.S. Military presence in the Middle East.
