Iran Detains Two Foreigners in East Azerbaijan Over Starlink Equipment Import

Iranian authorities detained two foreigners in the northwest of the country on charges of importing equipment for Starlink technology, which is banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to Tasnim News Agency citing a local prosecutor on Sunday.

The agency said the suspects were detained in the Jolfa area of East Azerbaijan Province and were involved in importing internet connectivity devices via satellites (Starlink).

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The 24 News site said American efforts to keep Iranians connected to the Internet via Starlink intensified after the war in Iran caused a near-total Internet outage in the country, with activists from around the world stepping up to help Iranians stay connected through SpaceX Starlink satellite Internet service.

The use of this technology is banned in Iran and punishable by imprisonment, the 24 News site said, while the same case was described by Iran International as involving arrests by members of the Intelligence Ministry in Jolfa, West Azerbaijan Province.

Iran International quoted the Attorney General of the city of Jolfa in West Azerbaijan Province saying: "These people were active in this field by introducing several devices for Starlink satellite internet equipment into Iran."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Argentine President Javier Milei that the efforts being made by the United States and Israel against Iran are "not over yet," and said the two countries will achieve their objectives.

Iran International reported that U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that U.S. representatives would travel to Islamabad to hold negotiations with Iran and that he offered Iran "a very fair and reasonable" agreement.

Ars Technica

The same article said Trump added that if it is not accepted, the United States will destroy every power plant and every bridge in Iran, and it said the Iranian Supreme National Security Council later stated that Iran regards a naval blockade as a violation of the ceasefire.

In parallel, Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted Iranian armed forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shargargi saying that Tehran is ready for war and has identified a bank of targets in the event that the United States and Israel launch a new attack against it.

Al-Masry Al-Youm also quoted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying: "The Strait of Hormuz will remain open, one way or another" while the U.S. President said enriched uranium "will either be delivered immediately to the United States for transfer to American soil and destruction" or destroyed at its site or another acceptable site.

The BBC reported that the United States has, for the first time, used Shahid-like drones against Iran and said CENTCOM announced that the United States has used new long-range drones against Iran.

“The United States used Shahid-like drones against Iran for the first time”

BBC

The BBC described the drone known as the 'low-cost unmanned combat system' called 'Lucas' as resembling Iran's Shahid drones and said analysts believe it was built using 'reverse engineering'.

The BBC said CENTCOM released images in December showing light-colored rectangular shapes on the upper fuselage that resemble Starlink satellite internet terminals, and it said the United States has officially confirmed the first use of these drones in Iran.

Mehr News Agency, citing a Reuters investigation, said Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network served as the operational backbone for US military drone strikes during the June 2025 and February 2026 wars against Iran and said it provided real-time video feeds and command guidance to LUCAS loitering munitions.

Mehr News Agency also stated that "Thousands of Starlink terminals smuggled into Iran" complemented the official military use, while the BBC said it is not clear exactly what type of terminal was used on Lucas drones.