SpaceX has cancelled subscription fees for its Starlink satellite internet service in Iran, enabling terminal owners inside the country to access connectivity for free amid widespread protests and government-imposed internet shutdowns.
The move was confirmed by Ahmad Ahmadian, Executive Director of the US-based group Holistic Resilience, which supports Iranians in securing access to uncensored communications. According to Ahmadian, Starlink terminals already operating in Iran can now connect without payment.
The decision follows intensified restrictions by Iranian authorities, who have repeatedly throttled or blocked internet access during periods of civil unrest. Although Starlink equipment remains prohibited under Iranian law, terminals continue to function by bypassing official controls.
The development also follows an appeal by US President Donald Trump to SpaceX leadership, urging the company to help restore communications in Iran in support of demonstrators.
This is not the first time Elon Musk has deployed Starlink in politically sensitive contexts. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, SpaceX has provided free connectivity to support civilian and military communications. The company has also enabled broadband access in Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro.
Analysts increasingly view Starlink as a geopolitical instrument, enabling the United States to project “soft power” by circumventing digital censorship in authoritarian states. By providing independent connectivity beyond the reach of national controls, satellite internet is reshaping how information flows in crisis environments.
SpaceX has not issued an official public statement confirming the introduction of a free service regime for Iran.
