Iran official says Starlink could cripple Tehran’s internet-control playbook

Iran's Deputy Communications Minister, Mohammad Hafez Hakami, has cautioned that Elon Musk's Starlink satellite-internet service could spell the end of Iran's capability to control cyberspace. The country has ramped up restrictions on internet access in response to unrest, from blocking individual platforms in 2017 to shutting down nationwide internet in 2019, restricting major platforms post-2022 demonstrations, and disconnecting the network amidst recent turmoil.

Hakami's comments come in light of the Iranian authorities' reliance on tougher restrictions throughout these incidents. The deputy claimed that the country's control over cyberspace is no longer solely grounded on domestic networks, but rather on Starlink. This satellite internet service, which Iran has not licensed, has allowed users to circumvent state-imposed internet blackouts despite the equipment being outlawed.

However, Hakami acknowledged that as Starlink and other direct-to-cell satellite services operate outside Iran's state-controlled telecom infrastructure, the government's ability to maintain control is diminishing. He likened the Ministry of Communications and the Supreme Council of Cyberspace to amusement parks, implying their ineffectiveness. Hakami further suggested that the regime has yet to formulate an adequate response to the growing use of Starlink.

In an alarming turn, Hakami suggested that if this trend continues, the next crisis might force Iran to cut electricity. The deputy also noted that Starlink and direct-to-cell satellite services could render measures such as device registration and user-identity verification useless, further undermining the government's control over cyberspace.