Iran05 October, 20262 min read
Iran Disables Starlink Terminals During January Protests, Warns Satellite Internet Could Become Military Target
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Iran says it disabled Starlink terminals during January protests. Starlink could become a legitimate military target if used as a war instrument.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Iran Reviews US Negotiation Proposals As Pakistan And Qatar Mediate Strait Of Hormuz Dispute →
Starlink Disabled Claim
Iran’s National Cyberspace Center head Mohammad Amin Aghamiri said Iran “managed to successfully disable Starlink terminals during the coup in January,” describing the nationwide protests as a “coup.”
Aghamiri told IRIB that “That important technical operation, which was completely successful, is one of our tools, and we also have other tools at our disposal to counter Starlink,” responding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN remarks.
Netanyahu displayed a Starlink terminal during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 24, and he accused Tehran of spending large sums of money on internet censorship.
Iran’s account tied the Starlink disruptions to an Iranian operation during protests that intensified on Jan. 8 and 9, when Iranian authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout on Jan. 8.
Anadolu Ajansı reported that Starlink, operated by US space technology company SpaceX, remained one of the few ways for Iranians to access the internet during the blackout, even as reports at the time indicated significant interference and disruptions.
Blackout Timeline and Numbers
Cybernews, reviewing statements attributed to Iranian Cyber Chief Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, said the Islamic Republic was “the first country to successfully and deliberately shut down Starlink operations during the timeframe it required.” Cybernews also stated that Tehran implemented a nationwide digital blackout impacting over 90 million Iranians by January 8. Cybernews further claimed that the IRGC’s cyber arm successfully disrupted Elon Musk’s Starlink internet satellite service, while “less than 1% of the population were reportedly still able to use” it during the blackout.
Cybernews reported that Iranian authorities said they imposed the blackout at the height of widespread anti-regime protests that spread to over 200 cities beginning on December 28th, 2024. Cybernews added that Iranian authorities reported “over 3,000 citizen deaths during theJanuary 8-9 crackdown,” while most NGOs in the region say it was Iranian forces killing their own people.
Warning of Military Target
Seyed Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, who heads the National Cyberspace Center, warned that if satellite internet infrastructure is used as a tool of war, it can become “a legitimate military target.” ISNA reported that Aghamiri said Iran “successfully disabled Starlink terminals during the events of Dey [December 2025–January 2026] last year,” and he said Western media confirmed the success at the time. Aghamiri told the third Internet Businesses Conference hosted by Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA) that the “important and completely successful technical operation” was one of Iran’s tools, alongside other technologies to identify and block terminal activity.
Mehr News Agency said Aghamiri told remarks published on Monday that Iran had been able to manage the operation of some networks and platforms, including Starlink, during the recent war and prevent them from continuing their activities. WANA News Agency reported that Aghamiri said Iran is “technically and operationally prepared to respond if new tools are used to attack the country’s network or military infrastructure,” and he said Iran would act in accordance with the country’s governance requirements.