The US covertly smuggled 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran during riots in January, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing officials.
The operation marked the first time Washington directly facilitated the transfer of Starlink systems into Iran. The shipments came after Iranian authorities imposed a sweeping internet shutdown during riots, according to the report.
Officials said the State Department purchased nearly 7,000 terminals in recent months, most in January, after senior officials decided to redirect funds from existing internet-freedom initiatives inside Iran to acquire the satellite systems.
President Donald Trump was aware of the deliveries, they said, though it was unclear whether he personally approved the plan. The White House declined to comment.
Tehran has stressed Washington was behind inciting the protests. Trump publicly encouraged Iranians to continue demonstrating, saying during the riots that “help is on its way.”
The Islamic Republic of Iran has viewed the January 2026 events as a direct extension of what was known as the “12-Day War” in June 2025, relying on an in-depth analysis of the operational and technical lessons revealed by that war. The US and the Zionist entity’s reliance on “hybrid networks” combining human agents and satellite communications, particularly the Starlink system, was a key takeaway.
Source: Al-Manar English Website