Former Israeli PM says Starlink receivers were smuggled into Iran

JERUSALEM: Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel had smuggled Starlink internet receivers into Iran to support anti-government protesters, but alleged that the effort was not carried through by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Bennett said he had launched a plan to obtain and move into Iran large numbers of the satellite internet devices. He said the aim was to preserve internet and social media access inside the country during unrest.

In remarks to the audience, Bennett said he had initiated a process involving tens of thousands of Starlink receivers. He added that the devices were meant to help protesters organise and, ultimately, bring down the Iranian government.

At the event, Bennett criticised the current Israeli administration for halting the effort before it could be fully established.

“Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that”, he stated.

He added “And when the protest happened, ⁠that infrastructure was not there.”

Starlink and Iran

Starlink is a satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The service is not licensed to operate in Iran, although Musk has previously said it is active there. Iran has in the past accused Israel and the United States of bringing such devices into the country in a bid to weaken its security.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly restricted public internet access during periods of unrest. Shutdowns were imposed during deadly nationwide protests in January and also throughout the US and Israeli war with Iran that began at the end of February. Reuters has previously reported that some Iranians relied on Starlink during internet blackouts.

Political backdrop

Bennett served as Israel’s prime minister from 2021 to 2022 and now leads a right-wing party. He is among several opposition politicians seeking to replace Netanyahu in an election due by October.

Bennett also said that if he returned to office, he would pursue efforts aimed at undermining Iran’s government and bringing it down. He said such steps could include measures short of direct military action, including economic and industrial sabotage.

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to questions about Bennett’s comments, while SpaceX was unavailable for comment outside US business hours.