The United States covertly transferred approximately 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following a nationwide protest crackdown in January, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The shipments were reportedly carried out after Iranian authorities imposed sweeping internet restrictions during unrest linked to economic hardship and currency depreciation.
According to officials cited in the report, the US State Department purchased nearly 7,000 terminals in recent months, most of them in January, after senior officials decided to redirect funds from existing internet-freedom initiatives toward acquiring the satellite systems. The move marked the first time Washington directly facilitated the transfer of Starlink equipment into Iran.
The protests followed rising inflation and currency collapse, prompting Tehran to restrict internet access in an effort to contain demonstrations. Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused Washington of encouraging unrest, allegations the United States denies. During the protests, President Donald Trump publicly urged demonstrators to continue, stating that “help is on its way.” Officials told the newspaper that Trump was aware of the deliveries, though it remains unclear whether he personally approved the operation.
Ownership of Starlink terminals is illegal under Iranian law and can result in multi-year prison sentences. Despite this, analysts estimate that tens of thousands of Iranians use satellite internet systems to bypass state firewalls and maintain access to external information networks.
US government data cited in the report indicate that approximately 30 million Iranians relied on US-funded VPN services during protests in 2022. During a 12-day escalation last June, when Iran implemented a near-total internet blackout following US and Israeli strikes, officials estimated that roughly 20% of Iranians were still able to access limited online services through US-supported VPN infrastructure.
A State Department official stated that Washington supports a range of technologies aimed at maintaining connectivity for Iranians and continues working with international partners to expand these capabilities.
