Iran submitted a formal complaint to the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over the unauthorized provision of Starlink satellite services within its territory last month amid the country's war with Israel.
Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Fars News reported Wednesday that Iran’s Ministry of Communications sent the complaint in a letter dated June 23 to the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board.
The report included a copy of the letter, which alleges that Starlink operated in Iran without the required license.
The complaint follows Starlink’s activation in Iran during the 12-day war with Israel last month, when Iranian authorities imposed widespread internet shutdowns.
On June 14, Starlink’s founder Elon Musk confirmed on X that “the beams are on,” indicating the satellite service was active inside Iran.
Starlink's role in Iran has grown significantly over recent years. The number of its users in the country has now surpassed 100,000, according to Pouya Pirhosseinlou, head of the Internet and Infrastructure Committee at Iran’s E-Commerce Association.
"Over 30,000 unique users are utilizing satellite internet, suggesting that the total number of satellite internet users exceeds 100,000," Pirhosseinlou told Iran's ILNA news agency earlier this year.
Despite being officially prohibited in Iran, Starlink’s appeal lies in its unrestricted access and high-speed service—an alternative to the heavily filtered and controlled local internet where Iran ranks among the world's lowest for internet freedom, according to Freedom House.
Last weekend, Iran's judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said authorities would take legal action against individuals and entities using Starlink.
According to a new proposed espionage-related bill, penalties ranging from six months to 10 years would apply to the use or distribution of unauthorized communication equipment, including satellite internet services like Starlink, depending on scale and intent.
