WASHINGTON – Teh United States government, under former President Donald trump, covertly provided approximately 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to Iran during a period of significant civil unrest earlier this year. This operation, funded by the State Department, aimed to circumvent a nationwide internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities in January.
The disclosure, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal, lends credence to Tehran’s longstanding allegations of external interference fueling the widespread protests. Senior U.S. officials confirmed the operation, stating that President Trump was informed about the shipment, tho the extent of his direct approval remains unclear.
The unrest in Iran initially began in December as demonstrations sparked by economic grievances. However, these protests rapidly escalated into widespread violence, prompting a severe response from the Iranian government, including the imposition of a complete internet shutdown.
Iranian officials have consistently accused both Washington and Tel Aviv of actively instigating the unrest. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently reported that over 3,000 individuals lost their lives during the period of unrest, including nearly 700 described as “terrorists,” alongside civilians and security forces.The provision of Starlink terminals represents a significant, albeit clandestine, intervention by the U.S. in the internal affairs of Iran, raising questions about the implications for regional stability and international relations.
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