Bennett says Israel smuggled Starlink into Iran

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett publicly acknowledged on Tuesday that Israel covertly smuggled tens of thousands of Starlink satellite internet receivers into Iran during his tenure to help anti-government protesters maintain communications during state-imposed internet blackouts.

A Covert Operation Revealed

Speaking at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Bennett told the audience he had initiated a "process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks." The devices were intended to enable protesters to coordinate and ultimately challenge the Iranian government.dawn+1

Bennett, who served as prime minister from 2021 to 2022, used the revelation to attack the current government, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration of abandoning the effort. "Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that. And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there," he said.thefinancialexpress+1

Starlink's Contested Presence in Iran

Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is not officially licensed to operate in Iran. However, Elon Musk has previously indicated the service is active there. In December 2022, Musk posted that nearly 100 Starlink terminals were operating inside the country.timesofisrael+1

Iran has previously accused Israel and the United States of smuggling the devices into the country to undermine its security. Earlier this year, amid a government-imposed internet blackout during renewed protests, Reuters reported that some Iranians were still accessing Starlink, with users in border towns finding connectivity more reliable.reuters+1

Bennett's Broader Warning

The Starlink disclosure came as part of a broader address in which Bennett warned that Israel's relationship with the United States is at a "precarious moment," urging the country to rebuild its public image rather than rely solely on political alliances in Washington.jns

The revelation marks a rare public confirmation of a covert Israeli operation targeting Iran's internal stability, raising questions about the scope of intelligence activities aimed at supporting dissent within the Islamic Republic.