According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the United States carried out a covert operation to smuggle approximately 6,000 Starlink terminals into Iran after the regime's harsh crackdown on demonstrators in January. This unprecedented operation signified the first time the U.S. sent Starlink directly to Iran, aiming to support the Iranian people's efforts to bypass government-imposed internet restrictions. The Iranian authorities had escalated their response to the protests, which included the killing of thousands of demonstrators and cutting off internet access nationwide.

The initiative appears to have roots in U.S. diplomatic strategies as the Trump administration redirected funds to aid Iran's citizens in overcoming internet shutdowns. Despite the severe repercussions faced by Iranians caught in possession of a Starlink terminal, which could lead to several years in prison, thousands have opted to use them anyway in an attempt to maintain communication and access to information during turbulent times. This highlights the risks undertaken by civilians in a repressive regime seeking to assert control over digital communications.

As the operation unfolded, the explicit authorization from President Trump regarding the shipment remains ambiguous, although sources indicate that he was aware of the transport. This raises questions about the broader implications of U.S. foreign policy actions and their effectiveness in supporting democratic movements within authoritarian regimes, as well as the potential for backlash from the Iranian government against these acts of defiance.