Musk: 'Starlink is on in Iran', but access to satellites is not so easy

Elon Musk announced on X that he had activated the Starlink satellite internet service in Iran, 'the beams are on'. The statement, which is actually not new, in fact it is very similar to what he himself said in 2022, came in response to a message from Fox News commentator Mark Levin, who had urged him to take action, stating that 'this move will change the reality for Iranian citizens and represent the final blow for the regime'.

According to the Wall Street Journal, in response to the Israeli attacks, Iran imposed temporary restrictions on the Internet, reducing international connectivity by about 50 per cent, as verified by NetBlocks, to hinder the dissemination of news about military activities.

Whether Starlink can solve or improve the situation, however, remains to be seen. From a technical point of view, connecting to Elon Musk's low-altitude satellites is possible because they cover the country. But this is done without official legal or infrastructural support in the country..

Elon Musk has also stated in the past that Starlink was available in Iran, especially to support Internet access during the regime's crackdowns against protesters in 2022-2023. Iran, however, is subject to international sanctions, in particular by the United States.

Starlink, as an American company, cannot legally operate in Iran without specific authorisation from the US government.