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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- 13 January 2026 18:38
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Iranian intelligence forces have announced that they have seized a large amount of Starlink satellite internet equipment.
Iranian intelligence forces have said they have seized a large shipment of Starlink equipment in border areas, which were suspected of being intended for "espionage and sabotage operations" within the country.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeBBC Persian has learned that some Iranians are using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, although authorities have attempted to disrupt the signals using "jamming".
The use of this device is illegal in Iran.
According to the state media channel on Telegram on January 13, the shipment had entered Iran "illegally from a neighboring country."
The report says the seized equipment included 100 long-range receivers, 50 BTS signal boosters, 743 5G modems from various brands, and 799 next-generation mobile phones.
A video accompanying the report showed boxes of electronic equipment, some with the Starlink brand.
This appears to be the first time that Starlink equipment has been reported seized in Iran.