Trump Eyes Starlink Deployment as Iran Protests Escalate; Hegseth to Visit SpaceX

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he plans to coordinate with billionaire Elon Musk to restore internet connectivity in Iran, where a regime-imposed blackout has entered its fifth day.

Speaking to reporters, Trump confirmed he would engage with Musk’s SpaceX unit to explore activating the Starlink satellite network over the region.“He’s very good at that kind of thing, and he’s built a very strong company,” Trump said, signaling a return to the “Maximum Pressure” strategy of leveraging private-sector technology as a tool of statecraft.

Digital Darkness and Civil Unrest

The blackout, which NetBlocks confirms began on January 8, has isolated Iran as it faces its most expansive anti-government movement since 2022.Sparked on December 28, 2025, by hyperinflation and the collapse of the rial, the demonstrations have spread to all 31 provinces.

Human rights groups, including HRANA, have verified at least 490 deaths, though eyewitness accounts from Tehran’s Kahrizak center suggest the actual toll could exceed 2,000.The internet shutdown is widely viewed by international observers as a mechanism to mask these security-force crackdowns.

Strategic Alignment: Trump, Hegseth, and Musk

The move underscores a renewed political entente between Trump and Musk following a dinner at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month.In a significant move today, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit a SpaceX facility in Texas. While the visit is officially regarding defense logistics, sources suggest the Iran “Starlink bridge” is a top-tier agenda item.

Musk has previously activated Starlink in Iran (2022) and Ukraine, though his control over the service has occasionally sparked diplomatic friction.For SpaceX, the Iran mission serves as a dual-purpose endeavor: a demonstration of satellite resilience and a high-stakes test of its ability to bypass state-level jamming in a hostile environment.

Summary

President Trump has signaled he will leverage Elon Musk’s Starlink to counter Iran’s nationwide internet blackout, which has entered its fifth day.As Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits SpaceX today, the U.S. administration appears to be formalizing the use of private satellite technology as a diplomatic and humanitarian lever amid protests that have claimed hundreds of lives since December 28.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why did the Iranian government shut down the internet? 

The blackout began on January 8, 2026, to disrupt protest coordination and prevent the international community from witnessing the security crackdown following the Dec 28 economic riots.

Q2: Can Starlink work in Iran without the government’s permission? 

Technically, yes. Starlink communicates directly with satellites. However, it requires physical ground terminals (dishes) to be smuggled into the country, as the Iranian government has not authorized the service.

Q3: Has Starlink been used in Iran before? 

Yes. Musk enabled the service during the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests.Reports indicate that some smuggled terminals are already active in Tehran as of early January 2026.

Q4: What is the current status of the Trump-Musk relationship? 

After a public rift in mid-2025 over tax policy, the two have reconciled. Musk’s influence is currently reflected in the administration’s pivot toward private-sector infrastructure for global communications.

Q5: How many people have been affected by the protests? 

Rights groups verified 490 deaths by Jan 11, with over 10,600 arrests recorded in just two weeks of unrest.