![Starlink satellite antennas are seen at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), the international trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, on August 31, 2023 during a preview at the fair grounds in Berlin.
[Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1636560108.jpg?fit=920%2C614&ssl=1)
Iran’s official broadcasting authority said on Tuesday that security forces have closed 40,000 Starlink stations, owned by Elon Musk, which allow users to access the internet via satellite.
It is unclear whether the devices were seized or simply disabled, and the information could not be independently verified.
For several days, the government has described the large-scale protests against its policies as being influenced from abroad, and it now appears to partly blame Starlink.
Iranian authorities have accused their long-time enemies, Israel and the United States, of “terrorist activities.”
Starlink is a network of thousands of satellites. Users need a special dish with a router function to connect to the internet. In Iran, using these systems can lead to imprisonment. The satellite dishes must have a clear view of the sky to work.
Internet access in Iran has been largely cut off since 8 January.
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