Elon Musk has confirmed that Starlink’s satellite internet has been activated over Iran, offering an alternative internet connection to citizens after the Islamic Republic imposed sweeping internet restrictions in response to Israeli military strikes.
On Friday, Israel launched a surprise attack targeting Iranian nuclear sites, reportedly killing senior officials and causing damage across several provinces. In the aftermath, Iran’s Ministry of Information and Communications announced “temporary restrictions” on internet access across the country, citing “special conditions.”
As connectivity dropped nationwide—confirmed by internet watchdog NetBlocks—calls mounted on social media for Musk to re-enable Starlink in the region. In response to a request from conservative commentator Mark Levin, Musk simply posted on X, “The beams are on,” signaling that Starlink coverage over Iran was live.
The beams are on
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 14, 2025
Starlink has previously been deployed in conflict zones and crisis areas, including Ukraine and Gaza. While Iran is not officially listed as a supported country on Starlink’s coverage map, SpaceX has the technical ability to activate service in regions experiencing censorship or blackouts.
Musk’s move to provide Starlink access in Iran may further complicate tensions in the region, but it also empowers ordinary Iranians to bypass state censorship and communicate freely. Similar deployments in Ukraine and Gaza have demonstrated the system’s capacity to maintain connectivity in regions facing infrastructure disruptions or authoritarian controls.
As of now, it is unclear how widespread Starlink’s accessibility is in Iran or whether hardware distribution efforts are underway.
