Iranian Government Cuts Starlink Internet for the First Time Using Military Jamming Systems

According to Forbes, the Islamic Republic of Iran has, for the first time, disrupted access to Starlink’s satellite internet by deploying military-grade jamming systems. Described as a new “kill switch,” this move extends communication shutdowns beyond domestic internet networks and directly targets an alternative means of connectivity used by protesters and anti-government activists. Reports indicate that this unprecedented action has significantly altered the landscape of emergency internet access. Despite the operation of tens of thousands of Starlink receivers inside Iran, disruptions have now spread to satellite communications. Initially, around 30 percent of Starlink’s inbound and outbound traffic was affected, a figure that reportedly rose to more than 80 percent within hours. The Times of Israel also reported that the number of Starlink terminals in Iran has grown significantly compared to previous shutdowns, even though the Iranian government has never authorized the service and has declared the possession and use of Starlink equipment illegal. The report adds that interference with GPS signals—particularly following the 12-day conflict with Israel in June—has led to localized and uneven outages in Starlink connectivity.