Israeli minister reaches out on Starlink connectivity amid Iran’s internet shutdown: Reports

Jerusalem: As Iran grapples with intense nationwide protests and widespread internet blackouts, reports have emerged suggesting that Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, could be activated in the country.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Deputy Minister Almog Cohen recently contacted Israeli-American venture capitalist Dovi Frances to ask whether Starlink was operating inside Iran at a time when authorities had imposed a sweeping internet shutdown to curb communications during the unrest.

Also read: ‘We don’t desire a war, but we are ready for it’: Iran FM’s warning to US, Israel

Frances told The Jerusalem Post that he subsequently spoke with Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates the Starlink satellite internet service. However, he declined to disclose the details of their conversation.

Iranian authorities have a long history of imposing internet shutdowns during protests to hinder mobilisation and control the flow of information.

Starlink has drawn particular attention in such situations because satellite-based connectivity can, in some cases, bypass traditional telecom networks that governments seek to throttle. However, no official confirmation has yet been released by Starlink or other concerned authorities.

Starlink has been linked to earlier internet disruptions in Iran. In June 2025, Starlink was activated in Iran during a blackout, while Tehran has repeatedly warned citizens against installing Starlink equipment.

Meanwhile, protests in Iran intensified late Thursday and Friday, with demonstrators taking to the streets in what observers described as the largest rallies since the 2022–2023 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody.

Videos verified by AFP showed large crowds chanting slogans including “death to the dictator,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, across Tehran and several other cities, including Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Shazand. Some footage appeared to show protesters setting fire to government buildings and state television offices, though not all images could be independently verified.

US-based Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, who had called for protests on Thursday, urged demonstrators to return to the streets on Friday, saying that large crowds had forced security forces to retreat and weakened the regime’s repressive capacity.