SpaceX has made access to Starlink in Iran free to users as the country faces deadly protests and a days-long internet blackout, according to groups working with people on the ground. The move turns Elon Musk’s satellite network into a crucial lifeline for Iranians who can still reach the service despite official bans and growing pressure from security forces.
Iran’s government has severely restricted internet access nationwide during the unrest, but thousands of Starlink terminals smuggled into the country are helping some people stay online. At the same time, Iranian authorities are trying to jam Starlink signals and track down those using the system, making connectivity both valuable and risky.
Free Starlink access during shutdown
SpaceX has waived the monthly subscription fee for Starlink users in Iran so anyone with a receiver can connect without paying, according to Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the US-based group Holistic Resilience, which helps Iranians maintain internet access. A person familiar with Starlink’s operations also confirmed that the service had been made free in Iran, while asking not to be identified because the information is not public.
SpaceX has not commented publicly and did not respond to a request for comment about the decision to drop subscription fees in Iran. Digital rights advocates say this free access is especially significant because millions of people have been cut off from most online services for days.
Internet blackout and growing unrest
A nationwide internet shutdown in Iran has lasted for five days, leaving large parts of the population unable to use major online platforms, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The blackout comes as unrest across the country has sharply intensified over the past week, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to demand the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Activist groups have warned that thousands of people may have been killed in more than two weeks of violent clashes linked to the protests. Against this backdrop, tools like Starlink in Iran have become one of the few ways some citizens can share information, contact relatives, or access independent news.
Smuggled terminals and rising risks
Starlink equipment is officially banned in Iran, but many terminals have still made their way into the country despite legal and security risks. Ahmadian estimates that more than 50,000 Starlink receivers are now available inside Iran, having been smuggled across the country’s borders.
Iranian security forces are pushing back aggressively against this workaround. According to Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights at the human rights advocacy group Miaan Group, the Iranian military is actively trying to jam Starlink signals and is hunting for people who use the service. State-run IRIB News reported that authorities recently seized “a large consignment of electronic equipment used for espionage and sabotage,” which appeared in official footage to include Starlink receivers.
Rashidi has also confirmed that Starlink access in Iran is currently free, matching reports from Holistic Resilience. Together, these accounts describe a situation in which some Iranians can go online without paying for service but must do so under the constant threat of detection and punishment.
Trump and US role in Starlink push
Starlink’s expansion in Iran has also drawn attention from the United States government. US President Donald Trump has publicly encouraged Iranians to continue their protests and has previously urged Starlink to help restore communications in the country, even though the service remains banned by Iranian authorities.
Speaking with reporters on Air Force One, Trump said, “We may speak to Elon because, as you know, he’s very good at that kind of thing. He’s got a very good company, so we may speak to Elon Musk. In fact, I’m gonna call him as soon as I’m finished with you.” The comments underline how Starlink in Iran is seen in Washington as part of a broader effort to support open communications in countries facing harsh information controls.
Starlink’s growing geopolitical footprint
The situation in Iran is not the first time Elon Musk’s satellite network has been pulled into a major geopolitical crisis. Starlink satellites have been providing internet connectivity for both Ukrainian civilians and the Ukrainian military since Russia launched its invasion, making the service a key communications backbone in that conflict.
Starlink has also offered free service in Venezuela. In January, the company announced that it would provide free broadband access to Venezuelan citizens through February 3, following the US government’s seizure of President Nicolás Maduro. Together with the new free service in Iran, these moves have strengthened Starlink’s role as a tool of soft power tied to the world’s richest man and to US foreign policy interests.
High-stakes battle over connectivity in Iran
In Iran, that soft power now collides directly with an aggressive government effort to shut down independent communication. On one side, there are tens of thousands of Starlink receivers giving some Iranians a way around the blackout at no subscription cost. On the other, there is a state that is jamming satellite signals, seizing equipment, and pursuing people who try to stay connected.
For many Iranians, the stakes go far beyond simple web browsing. In the middle of mass protests, deadly crackdowns, and a prolonged internet shutdown, access to a working connection can determine whether they can document events, reach loved ones, or share their reality with the outside world. As long as the blackout and unrest continue, the struggle over Starlink in Iran is likely to remain a central—and dangerous—front in the wider battle over information and control.
