Brief
Iran deputy minister says Starlink threatens Tehran’s internet control
Deputy Communications Minister Mohammad Hafez Hakami warned that satellite internet could render Iran's censorship tools ineffective.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Deputy Communications Minister Mohammad Hafez Hakami told Iran International that the expanding use of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite‑internet service could deal the “final nail in the coffin” to Tehran’s ability to control cyberspace.
What happened
Hakami outlined a chronology of Iran’s internet restrictions: blocking a single platform in 2017, cutting nationwide access during the 2019 protests, restricting major platforms after the 2022 protests and disconnecting the entire network during the January 2026 crackdown. He said the regime now faces a new challenge as Starlink terminals, smuggled into the country, allow users to bypass state‑imposed blackouts.
What the reports add
The Gulf News article, citing Iran International, notes that Hakami warned the satellite service could make device registration and user‑identity verification measures ineffective and that, if the trend continues, Iran might be forced to cut electricity in a future crisis.
What was said
“Our control over cyberspace is no longer based on our domestic network. It is based on Starlink,” Hakami was quoted as saying.
“I sometimes joke that we might as well turn the Ministry of Communications and the Supreme Council of Cyberspace into amusement parks, because they will no longer serve any purpose,” he added.
How it came about
Iran has repeatedly criminalised unauthorised use or importation of satellite communications equipment, yet Starlink terminals have been smuggled in and used to evade blackouts. The warning follows a pattern of increasingly severe internet shutdowns during periods of unrest, as documented in Felo’s earlier coverage of Iran’s digital repression.
Key facts
- Deputy Communications Minister Mohammad Hafez Hakami warned Starlink could cripple Iran's internet control. (gulfnews.com)
- Iran has progressively tightened internet restrictions since 2017, culminating in a full network disconnect in January 2026. (gulfnews.com)
- Starlink terminals are smuggled into Iran and used to bypass state‑imposed blackouts. (gulfnews.com)
- Hakami said continued reliance on satellite internet could force Iran to cut electricity in a future crisis. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Growing use of Starlink satellite-internet service could deal the “final nail in the coffin” to Iran’s ability to control cyberspace: Iran Deputy Minister”
