Iranian authorities have vowed to continue a crackdown against the satellite internet service Starlink along with further restrictions on the global internet as the US-Israel war on Iran continues.
Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, secretary of the Supreme National Cyberspace Council, described Starlink as a “tool of war for enemies. It is a tool used for command and control by the enemy, for espionage and information gathering. He has several systems for cutting off Starlink satellite terminals, without elaborating on what measures or devices were being deployed during January protests and authorities prepared to share the technology with aligned countries. He has called on Iranians to use domestic platforms supported by the National Information Network, also backing a tiered access model which envisages protected international access for selected groups such as traders, researchers and journalists during periods periods of internet restrictions.
It has set baseline sentences of between six months and two years for using or possessing Starlink. Import and distributing the devices carry jail terms and up to five years. If paired with national security or espionage charges individuals can even face the death penalty. A Tehran internet expert speaking anonymous told Al Jazeera that authorities use a combination of measures to block Starlink connections, including the use of multiple jammers with different configurations that disrupt signals.