Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and head of the Islamic Republic's National Cyberspace Centre, has said that if satellite internet infrastructure is used as a tool of war, it could become a legitimate military target. He called Starlink a potential threat and claimed the Islamic Republic has the technical capability to counter it.
According to Iran International, Aghamiri also claimed that during the January 2026 uprising, which he called a "coup", the authorities succeeded for the first time in disabling Starlink terminals. The Times of Israel wrote that this is the first time an Islamic Republic official has openly spoken of such a capability. He gave no explanation of the technology used, and the claim cannot be independently verified.
A new wave of threats
These remarks are part of a new wave of statements by Islamic Republic officials against Starlink. According to Iran International, Mohammad-Hafez Hakami, an official at the Ministry of Communications, said last week that the spread of Starlink was driving the last nail into the coffin of cyberspace governance, and warned that if the trend continues, power cuts could also be put on the agenda in future crises.
According to Hossein Rahimi, head of FARAJA's economic security police, at least 997 Starlink devices were seized and 163 people arrested in connection with their import and distribution in the first four months of 2026. The Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry also summoned Norway's ambassador on Sunday, 4 October, holding Oslo responsible for Starlink's activity in Iran because the network is registered with international telecommunications bodies through Norway.
Fear of new protests
According to Iran International, the escalation of these threats coincides with a deepening cost-of-living crisis and growing speculation about a resumption of popular protests. Starlink lets users bypass filtering and internet shutdowns without going through domestic infrastructure; a tool that, during nationwide internet shutdowns, including during the January uprising, became important for getting images and news of the crackdown out of the country.
A senior Islamic Republic official called Starlink's satellite internet infrastructure a potential military target.
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